(mouse click) (dog barking) - [Stacie] Stop it, Ally. Boy, in the house. - [Allyson] Wait, he's at the gate. He's coming back. Nope, nope, nope, I'm calling. - James she doesn't wanna talk to you. (doorbell ringing) (banging on door) - [Mitch] Get off my porch! - James, no! - James, no! (banging on door continues) (suspenseful music) (suspenseful music continues) - A little after five in the morning on Tuesday, surveillance video from this home on Hollow Lane captured the moment a man with a gun kicked in the back door, then used his shoulder to break into the home. Another man with a gun stumbles as he follows the first suspect inside and two other armed men also walk in. League City Police say the four suspects held the people inside the home at gunpoint and stole multiple items, including cellphones. - It's a brazen home invasion. Two armed men burst into a house in Pasadena, Texas. Three victims are ordered to the floor, then one suspect lifts one young lady by her hair and orders her to another part of the house. - Our home is supposed to be our castle where privacy and security are expected. It is where, generally speaking, our most vulnerable loved ones are found. Women, children, the elderly, and the disabled. In addition, it's where valuables are stored so we have much to lose. That is why not much universally generates greater fear and anxiety than the prospect of a home invasion. Everyone, regardless of race, color, gender or nationality has contemplated and or planned for the possibility of their home being broken into. After all, if you're not safe at home, where are you safe? Today's video revolves around an attempted home invasion. It is unusual in that the perpetrator is known, but the motive is not. Before we dive into the facts of this unique case, however, I'd like to take a second to thank today's sponsor, Hello Fresh. 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All you need is some basic knife skills, not the kind of knife skills that'll get you featured on an episode of The Crime Atlas. I'm talking about basic food prep skills, it's really that simple. To recap, with Hello Fresh, I save time and money while eating delicious meals that are perfect, not just for me, but for the whole family and packed with seasonal flavors. Hello Fresh is a no brainer, but if you need more motivation, Hello Fresh is giving 65% off and free shipping to fans of The crime Atlas. Go to hellofresh.com and use code THECRIMEATLAS65 for 65% off plus free shipping. You heard correctly, go to hellofresh.com and use code THECRIMEATLAS65 for 65% off plus free shipping. And now back to our original content. 22 year old James Douglas Rayl was born on February 25th, 2000 and was a loving son, brother, and uncle. He was a native of Louisville, Kentucky and was raised in Ohio along with five other siblings. James attended Fairlawn High School and developed work skills at the Upper Valley Career Center Vocational school. There is no criminal background or history of behavioral problems in school or otherwise. He was described by loved ones as a fitness enthusiast who loved body building and coaching people in health. He was also a car lover and had three of his own. Friends and family remembered James as kindhearted, fun and helpful. James and 22 year old Allyson Duckro were in an off and on relationship that began in high school and continued for a short while after that. However, Allyson told authorities that as of July, 2022, it had been at least 18 months since they communicated. Therefore, she was surprised when late Saturday evening of July 30th, she received a phone call and voicemail message from James. - Hi Ally, it's James. I just wanted to reach out to you because I, I just wanted to see how you're doing. It's been a while since I've talked to you and feel like it- I don't know what I feel. I do know that I do wanna talk to you though. I do. It'd be nice. It'd be sweet. - Allyson told investigators that she did not respond to James's voicemail. However, Allyson's claim is disputed by James's sister Jessica, who in a video posted online by dailymail.com, alleges that Allyson responded 10 minutes later with a text message that said, "What's up." The following morning at approximately 11:00 AM, a security camera captured footage of James arriving unannounced at the Duckro residence, looking for Allyson. It quickly became apparent that he was not welcome by the home's occupants. (dog barking) - Stop it Ally! Boy, in the house. - Hey, he's coming back. - James she doesn't wanna talk to you. (doorbell ringing) (banging on door) - Get off my porch! - James, no! - James, no. Get off the porch. I have a gun! (gunshots fired) (screaming in the house) - No, step away. He tried breaking in our house. - He what? - He just tried to get to our daughter! - Okay but he- He's fine. He don't have nothing. He don't have no gun. - What? He don't have no gun. Don't do anything. - He just tried to break in and get to our daughter. - Okay but he's not moving he don't have a gun. - He broke our door in, trying to get to our daughter. Okay, hold on. - Did you shoot him? - Yes. - Okay, call the- Call 911. - No we're on the phone with them right now. - Okay, he's not moving. He ain't going nowhere. I thought I heard five shots like- - No, it's three shots and he broke the door and came after our daughter but my husband shot, he come barrelling right behind me & my daughter in the car. - Oh geeze. - Yeah. So we got in here and he wouldn't leave. We kept telling him to leave. - Yeah. - Oh my God, I'm sorry. - So sorry. Obviously this was a sex maniac- Was he dating her? - They dated a long time ago. It was a long time ago. He left a voicemail and sent a message last night. - Okay, just calm down. Calm down. - Who's got the gun? - Huh? - Who's got the gun? Who has the gun? - The people inside here shot this guy here who tried to break into their house. The guy's dead , he died. - Where's the guy with the gun? - That guy's dead right here. - Where's the guy with the gun? - Inside the house, he's the homeowner. This guy tried to break in the house. - Okay. - And the guy was just basically protecting himself. - We're right here. - Okay, you guys have your gun down? - Yeah, yeah. We're right here. - This guy just died. - I was only next door and I heard these gunshots going off. - Can the guy with the gun come out here and leave the gun inside. Just so we can talk to him, okay? - I'm sorry, that door's busted. - It's okay. - According to a joint statement by prosecutor Tim Sell and Sheriff Jim Frye, officers began to render first aid to James using defibrillator pads until ambulance personnel arrived on the scene. At that time, James was assessed and it was determined that he was deceased. The residence's occupants were identified as Allyson Duckro, her father, Mitch Duckro and her mother, Stacie Duckro. Initial interviews of the Duckros were conducted at the scene. At that time, Mitch Duckro indicated he fired the weapon and admitted to discharging it three times. Three witnesses gave statements and confirmed hearing multiple gunshots. The location of the incident, including the interior and exterior of the house was processed. Evidence was collected and a canvas of the residence's north and south of the incident site was conducted. James was transported to the Montgomery County Coroner's Office for an autopsy. At the same time, Sheriff Frye and Lieutenant Detective Brown headed to the Rayl residence to make the death notification and share what was known about the incident. Meanwhile back at the Sheriff's office, formal questioning took place. - Alright, Allyson. My name's Angie. I'm an investigator here and I just wanna talk to you about what happened today okay? If you need to take a break during any of this, just let me know. Do you need to use a restroom or anything? - No. - Okay. - If you'd like to have that water, you most certainly are welcome to it. Anytime we interview anybody, we just kinda go read your Miranda Rights. It doesn't mean that we think you're in trouble, it's just that you know that you're- you have rights and what they are. Let's just kind of start off from the beginning. What happened today? - You want like my whole day or just- - Yeah, go ahead. We'll start your whole day. - Me and my mom met my mom's friend for breakfast. - Okay. - And we were there from like, I wanna say like nine to like 10:45 probably. - Okay. Where'd you have breakfast? - Perkins. - Here in Sydney? - Yeah. And then we dropped her off probably. - Where does she live? - Oh goodness. She lives over by the fairgrounds. - Okay. - I don't know her like actual address. - That's okay. Just by the fairgrounds? - Yeah, by the fairgrounds. And then after we dropped her off, we went to the Speedway. That's there by that little mini Pizza Hut. I don't know that address either. - That's okay. You're probably talking to the person with the worst addresses memory in the county. By the Dollar General? - Yeah. - Okay. - And then I think we pulled into the driveway after that, at about like 10:59 or 11 like on the nose. Cause I was like, wow we've been there for two hours. - Okay, so you got into the house and then what happened? - As soon as I got up to the door and was walking inside, that's when he got out and I seen him walking up so I slammed the door really fast and I locked it and I told mom and dad. So mom is downstairs and I got dad upstairs for us. - Okay, so dad was downstairs? - Yeah, he was in the basement. - You have like a finished basement? - Yeah, our family area. - Dad's cave. - Yeah. - Okay. So then dad came upstairs. Does he know why he's coming upstairs at that point? - He heard James was here. - Okay. - And he already had told Clay that he didn't want James back at the house. - Okay. When you were dating James, did mom and dad like him? Did they get along with him? - Yeah, they had, yeah. He was respectful of them. - Yeah. Yes. Very nice. Never did anything to make it be like, you know. - Did James get along with his family? - With his mom and his stepdad, yeah. I'm not sure about his biological dad. - Okay. - Yeah - So his parents are divorced? - Yeah, yeah. - Okay. Did they live in Sydney as well? - I think his mom and stepdad do. I don't know about his dad. - Okay. What's his mom's name, do you know? - Gosh. - If you don't remember- - I know, I'm sorry. It's a couple- - So they live in Sydney. He got along with mom and stepdad, but not so much dad? - Yeah. As far as that's what it came off as when he was always talking about them. - Okay. And your family, he was always respectful of them? - Yeah. Very nice. - Do you know how he acted when he was told possibly by Clay that they really weren't comfortable with him being there? - No. - Clay didn't tell you anything? - He's not a talker anyway. - Okay, okay. He keeps everything to himself? - Yeah. - Okay. So dad comes upstairs. Where is your, where is your downstairs door? I didn't go to your house. - So if you come in- - Did you see the garage door at all? I don't know- - If you go in the back sliding glass door. - Yeah. - So we're in that little room where the sliding door is and then you go out to where the living room is and there's that little hallway right there. - Okay. - The garage door is right here. - Okay. - And that little shoot where the laundry room is and then the basement door is right there, right next to it. - Okay. Alright. So he came upstairs? - Yeah. - And then what happened? - And then I kept looking at him. I was like, I'm just gonna call the cops. I was like, I don't want, I don't wanna deal with it. I was like, There's no use, he's not gonna listen. She's like, No, don't do that, do that. And then we started talking to him through the ring a couple times and he just like had his head down, his hands behind his back. Dad was like, well I don't like that. - Did he knock at first or was he just- - He kept ringing the doorbell. So he did keep ringing the the doorbell? - Yeah. - Okay. - And once the ring doorbell rings, when you start talking to it, it just starts recording. - Okay. - So you can hear dad and mom both- Cause I was like, I don't wanna talk to him- saying "Hey man, she doesn't wanna talk to you, it's best if you just leave for right now. If she wants to reach out, she will. And he just stood there and kept ignoring. So then dad went out through the garage and he didn't go around the corner or anything, he just stood there and was like, "Hey man" trying to get him to answer and nothing, nothing, nothing. And then he tried starting to fiddle with the door handle. - Okay. - And dad's like, I don't like that. So he goes and gets his gun just in case. - And where does dad keep his gun? - In his bedroom I believe. I think it's in the nightstand next to his side, but I'm not positive. - Okay. So he's standing there. We're still talking him through the ring saying "Hey, you need to stop." And he's like, now he's like really busting on the door. So dad goes over and starts holding it shut, but I don't even know how, cause my- You saw my dad I hope, he's a big man. He starts like overpowering my dad and I'm just like, okay. - So your dad's on the other side of the door holding, physically holding it shut. - Oh, I'm already on the phone with 911 at this point. I forgot that. - That's okay, that's okay. - And she's trying to get my information. Dad's holding the door, mom's freaking out. And then like, I don't know how he broke the glass of the door, but he like broke the glass, the doorframe, whatever that's called, the jam or whatever splits off. He is starting to get in and then I freak out and I go around and hide 'cause I didn't know what to do. - Before that were you all in the living room? - Yeah, we were all standing right there next to the fireplace. Me and mom were- - Okay - over here. He's still at the door. I didn't even see when he shot or anything. I just heard it. I hid, I literally hid most of the time. - That's okay. I probably would've done the same thing. Do you know if he was on any drugs or had he ever done any drugs that you know of? - He has done drugs. - Okay. Do you know what his, what his drug of choice is? - He liked to do acid a lot. - Okay. Back, back then. I don't know about recent 'cause he moved out to California not too long ago and then came back. So I don't know if he started something while he was out there. - Gotcha. When did he come back? How long has he been back in town? Do you know? - I wanna say maybe a year. - Okay. - It's not too long, but not like recent either. - But how long was he living out there? - Maybe about a year also. - Okay. So back then when you were dating him and kind of friends with him, acid was- - acid and weed. - I don't know what else he did other than that. - Was he ever on meth or heroin or anything that you know of? Okay. I don't think he would've told me 'cause he knew I didn't like it. - Right. And that was his car that he was driving that you know of? - Last time I saw him driving a car, he had a red car. - Okay. - So I don't know about that. - That's fine. And then you guys just kind of went outside once? - Yeah, they had us go sit outside. - Okay. I'm really sorry that this happened to you today. This is not how anyone wants their days to go for sure. Is there anything about him that you think we should know about his personality? Has he ever threatened anybody before? Was he like a fighter? - No, I thought he was always very nice. I mean, he worked out all the time. I don't know if think he did any boxing or anything. - Okay. - But yeah, he was okay in high school, but then after he came back from California, he just was different. - Again, my name's Detective Mark from the sheriff's office okay? Real quick, I understand your name's Mitch Duckro? - Yes, I am Mitch. Again? I was called in from home about this, okay? I can't imagine what you're going through right now. You and your family. Will you- Our main purpose today for this interview okay- The reason why we separate you is just to kind of cover our bases and to just kind of get a line of events of what occurred. Okay? - I understand. So if you would, I understand- Were you aware of the text messages that James had sent your daughter last night? - I was not. - Okay, So your daughter did not share those with you? - No. - Okay. Alright. There wasn't text message, I'm sorry, voicemail. - That I just now heard about now standing at the door. - So you weren't aware of it? - Never heard a peep yesterday or this morning. - Okay. So let's go to this morning, okay. We'll just start from the time you woke up okay? What happened? - Made the coffee, got the cup go down on my computer like I do every weekend. Just get on Facebook. I was watching some Netflix when they were leaving to go to breakfast, they said bye- - Where'd they go to breakfast then? - Perkins, I believe. Okay, just your- - Yeah. - So just you, your wife and your daughter in the residence all day today? - Yes. - Okay. And do you remember what time they went to Perkins by chance? Roundabout? - Nine-ish. - Okay. - And you stayed home alone? - Yes. - Okay. Okay and then- go ahead. - I started watching a Netflix movie. - Okay. - About halfway through it. The dogs bark. I figured they were home, so I got to pause that and was walking up the steps, about halfway up and Stacie standing there. So I keep expecting somebody and I'm like, no, I, I kind of don't remember as far as they said it was James maybe, but I didn't hear James cause I didn't know who it was. I wasn't expecting anybody and he was just standing there at the door ringing. I think he rang. - So how long- So your, your wife and your daughter arrived back from Perkins okay? - He pulled in right behind them. - Okay. So they, did they come in that same front door or did they enter the garage or do you remember? - I think they came in the front door. - Okay. - So they came back in from breakfast and when they shut the door, did they lock it, I'm assuming? - they always lock it. - Okay. And how long, when they went in the house until James showed up on your front porch, do you think? - I wasn't up there when he wasn't there. When I got up there, he was already at the door. - Okay. Were you, so you were down in the basement? - Yeah. - Okay. And then he, so you heard him come home and then you came back, you came upstairs right when they came home and your wife asked if you were expecting anybody. Okay. - I don't think, I don't know if they knew who it was or maybe they didn't. - Okay. - Maybe they weren't sure. - Okay. - I don't know. - Okay. - But as soon as I like, 'cause Ally got freaked out because probably what happened and I, you know, the voicemail or whatever knew something wasn't right and I started getting nervous, you know, 'cause he wasn't answering the- They was talking over the ring telling him to leave, that she don't want to talk to you. - Was that over like the phone or- I think they were using - or were they just yelling through the door? - Yeah, it was through the phone. - Okay. - Through the ring. - Okay. - It's got the voice thing. And they were- You have to bear with me. - You're fine, you're fine. - They were just doing everything they could to make sure that he would leave and that we didn't want him here. And I ended up going around to the garage door, opening it up and walking around. And he was just standing there with his head down and I said, James- I don't know exactly what I said. I know I said his name, you- You need to leave or something like that. But he was just, he wouldn't acknowledge me. Didn't even budge. That made me kind of nervous. - So you opened the main garage door? - The house garage door. - Okay. - And I walked around. - You walked around to the front porch and said, James, you need to leave? - Yeah. - Okay. - You need to go or leave or something. - He didn't acknowledge you - Like I wasn't there. - Okay. So what happened? - That's when I got nervous and I went back in, shut the garage door, made sure he didn't- - Follow in - sneak in. So it shut, went in, got my nine. - Where was that at? - At, on my, my side of the bed and the nightstand. - Okay. Was it in a drawer? - Yeah. - Okay. Do you always keep it loaded just for personal protection? - Yeah - Okay. Do you know what kind of bullets you had in the gun? Self defense. Just like ball ammo or was it like- - Bullets. It was hollow point. - Okay. - Plastic I believe, maybe. - Okay, alright. Okay, and then after you grabbed the gun from your bedside table, what happened? - I went back out and they were still trying to get him to leave and he wouldn't leave. And I was, as soon as I- I was standing there, there was debating on whether to call 911. I said do it. - Where were you guys standing at? Right there by the- table. - The kitchen table? - Yeah. - Okay. - The big one. Kind of in that opening there, that's a little bit more towards the bedroom. I said, call them, I want somebody to get here and they can take care of us and get him out here. But then I noticed all that talking, trying to, they wouldn't acknowledge and I, I saw him starting to jiggle the- the handles and stuff seeing if it was locked and that's when I went up to the door, you know, kind of wanted to make sure he didn't force his way in. - So while he was jiggling the handle, you went up- - I'm pretty sure I was telling him to stop and leave and get off on a porch or something, but I had my nine in my hand at this hand and he then he started hitting it with the shoulder pretty hard to where, you saw what he did- - Yeah. - eventually. And it's once I realized he was getting in and the door was open is when I shot. - Okay. Did you shoot through the door or through the window? - I shot the window part of the door 'cause the door was open and he was coming in - So he was pushing his way in and you shot? - I had socks on so I couldn't, I didn't have no grip. - Was he kind of pushing you back as you were trying to hold him? - He was moving me. Okay. - And that's when I- At first it wouldn't, I was trying to shoot, but my clip wasn't added. - Okay. - And then I freaked out. I finally did that, did another rack and then he was pushing hard and that's when the gun fired I think three times. - Do you know if that firearm's registered in your name Mitch? - I don't think it is. I got it from Stacie's dad. Stacie's dad? Okay. - He went into the home and- - Okay, so he just gave it to you or did you buy it? - Yeah. He wanted me to have all his stuff - Okay. Do you know Stacy's dad's name by chance? - Gregory Cole. - Okay. Then the only reason why I ask is 'cause when we run the serial number, I just didn't know if it was gonna come back to you or hers - It should be under his name. - Do you know if you bought it from a store or if he got it from somebody else? - I imagine he got it in the store. - Okay. Okay. Is there anything else you'd like to talk about Mitch? - Just be over with, but I know you gotta do and you'll do it. - Like I said, today we're just covered trying to cover our bases. Okay. And that's why we just wanna talk to you separately, just to try to get each one of your stories and go from there. Okay? That's all, we did everything we could to get him to leave. - According to police records, on Monday, August 1st, 2022, two Shelby County Sheriff's Office detectives attended the autopsy of James Rayl. The detectives were informed that James was shot three times, once each in the left shoulder, the right shoulder, and the back. Additionally, they were notified that glass shards were found in the back wound, which was a close proximity wound and found to be the shot that caused the death of James. Later that day, detectives met with prosecutor Sell and it was decided the case would be presented to the next Shelby County Grand Jury for possible indictment. On the following day, Sheriff Fry and Lieutenant Detective Brown met with Rayl's stepfather, mother and sister at the Sheriff's office, where they reviewed the information acquired in the investigation to date and we're provided copies of the 911 calls, security camera video and video of the interviews with the Duckro family. The grand jury convened on Thursday, August 4th. Evidence presented included security camera footage, 911 audio, crime scene pictures, a recording of Mitch Duckro's interview and the coroner's conclusions. Prosecutor Sell advised the grand jury of the law regarding the crimes of murder, voluntary manslaughter and reckless homicide, as well as the Castle Doctrine and stand your ground laws recently enacted by the Ohio State Legislature In Ohio, at least seven of the nine jurors must vote to indict in order for a bill of indictment to be issued. Otherwise, the grand jury issues a no bill and the case is dismissed. After deliberation, the grand jury decided by an eight to one margin not to indict Mitch Duckro with any crimes in connection to the deadly shooting of James Rayl. Upon learning that Mr. Duckro would not be charged with killing James, the Rayl family launched a Facebook page titled "Justice for James." In an article by the Daily Mail, the family stated that the grand jury's ruling was upsetting and called for some changes to be made to the law which protects homeowners. James' sister, Jessica has campaigned on social media for a more extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Her central claim appears to be that it was out of character for James to suddenly call Allyson and then show up and display such aggression. Therefore, in her view, there must be a reason which should be more thoroughly considered. She told the Daily Mail that perhaps he could have gone to the property to be there for Allyson, to talk to her after getting in contact the night before. Jessica also stated the following opinion to the Daily Mail. "From my knowledge, the Duckro family has some connections to the Sheriff's department and there's an extreme bias. Allyson worked as a dispatcher for the office and Mitch is friends with the Sheriff. We are pushing for, at minimum a full investigation. I feel like that's a very fair thing to ask for them to simply just look into the death and not just to take the word of the people that still have a voice." Jessica also denied that James was ever abusive towards Allyson and said she had never heard of him taking any substances. Before April, 2021, the state of Ohio had decided that gun owners who resort to deadly force while in their castle, may do so without the burden of retreating first. According to Ohio revised code statutes 2901.09 and 2901.05, "A person is presumed to have acted in self defense or defense of another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another. If the person against whom the defensive force is used is in the process of unlawfully and without privilege to do so, entering or has unlawfully and without privilege to do so, entered the residence or vehicle occupied by the person using the defensive force." This is known as the Castle Doctrine. Then in April of 2021, Ohio became the 36th state to no longer require people to retreat before they can justifiably hurt or kill someone with a gun in self-defense, not just at home or in a car, but anywhere they have a legal right to be. The new law entitles Ohioans to stand their ground. The law's opponents believe it encourages citizens to shoot first and ask questions later. Supporters of the law believe it is necessary to adequately keep law abiding citizens safe. Regarding the Duckro matter, after a grand jury weighed the evidence and considered charges of murder, voluntary manslaughter and reckless homicide, the jury by eight to one margin decided not to issue an indictment against Mitch Duckro, indicating his actions were consistent with the state law. However, due to the case's attention, the Duckros sold their home and chose to relocate and start over. As for the Rayl family, it is always tragic when a young person loses their life. And we may never know exactly what compelled James to act the way he did at the Duckro residence on July 31st, 2022. With that said, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to James Rayl's family for the loss of their beloved son, brother, and uncle. And what are your thoughts? Is this a clear cut case of self-defense or do you suspect there may be more to the story? As usual, feel free to share your thoughts below. 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