Oildale, California – An 86-year-old man in Oildale, California, is being hailed as a hero after he protected his neighbor from her schizophrenic son, who had attacked her with a shovel.
The incident occurred when the son, who was allegedly on illegal drugs, came to Eva Strickland’s home, accusing her of keeping lottery winnings from him. He became violent and broke through the metal security door with the shovel. He then pushed Eva down and moved forward to attack her when her 86-year-old neighbor shot and killed him on the spot.
Eva Strickland said she would not have survived the attack if her neighbor had not been there to protect her. The incident highlights the growing problem of mental health violence and the need for law-abiding Americans to have increased ways to defend themselves and protect loved ones from people with mental illness.
Dr. Corey Gonzales, a licensed clinical psychologist, said that mental health issues can be tricky, especially for those who are diagnosed with schizophrenia.
He explained that “probably the most severe mental health condition you can have is schizophrenia.” He also noted that “delusions and hallucinations are the hallmarks of schizophrenia,” and that high instances of people with schizophrenia, about half of them, also have a mood disorder. There can be substance abuse where they’re trying to self-medicate, and about five to six percent of schizophrenics will die by suicide.”
While incidents like this are relatively rare, they highlight the need for better mental health care in the United States. Many people with mental illness do not receive the care and support they need, which can lead to violent incidents like the one in Oildale. Increasing access to mental health care and support for those who need it is essential.
At the same time, incidents like this highlight the importance of self-defense and the right to bear arms. While gun ownership is rising in the United States, incidents like this show that more law-abiding citizens must have the means to protect themselves and their loved ones from potential harm. While there are no easy solutions to the problem of mental health violence, it is clear that increased access to mental health care and better self-defense options are essential for keeping Americans safe.
By Tred Law and AI technology. Note: This article was generated using AI technology and may contain some automated content and analysis.
