My friend Jerry was shot and killed by his renter.

Jerry was the sweetest guy you 'd ever meet. 80's, widower, church leader. He was constantly giving his renters "a break", not raising rents, because this was side money to him.

Yesterday, Jerry was following up on an eviction with a renter who was a "simple" man, did not drive, walked everywhere, known around town as "he'd never hurt a fly".

The neighbors think the renter had moved out but had come back to the home.

He posted on Facebook something like "Sorry everyone. You'll find out soon enough".

By coincidence this rental is next to one of ours.

I post a lot of safety rants, but please remember, it only takes ONE, and they don't wear a sign.

Be the MANAGER with limited power, never the RICH OWNER.

Use a nickname, not your legal name so it's harder to find where you sleep.

I don't go to rentals after dark.

Don't argue. You never know what might trigger someone.

Just communicate by text.

Like the Texas and Alaska police - just ASSUME they have a gun and might be high.

More info surfacing...

Jerry was there to check a water leak.

I wonder if it was a trap, an ambush.

Unchecked / Ignored Mental Illness runs rampant.

Sorry to hear this.

Follow your directions.

This is scary and I'm not going to lie I keep a loaded gun by my bed. Now whether I could keep my wits about me and use it when the time came, I cannot say. It's really all up to my Maker really. Since we've had one eviction a year now for about 4 in a row, it could even be one from the past that can't let it go, who knows?

Condolences to you and the mans family.

Such tragic news. So sad for family, loved ones and friends.

Sorry for your loss.

I'm sorry for his loss, and for his family's.

Always assume everyone is armed in some way (gun, knife, bigger & stronger than me. etc.) Hope for the best, but always be ready for the worst.

To check a water leak.... yeah, might have been a set-up.

I just can't help shaking my head. And pray for protection every day.

It is truly a shame that society is evolving in such a manner that it lessens the value of life. RIP our friend whom never got a chance to meet. That is what saddens me, the loss of so much potential good in the world.

Sad news indeed.

From what little I gained online he had filed eviction but still went there anyhow?

I avoid the place entirely after I file eviction. Not worth the drama, and in this case not worth a life.

Brad, I am sorry this happened to your friend. I hope he receives justice.

Although we always think we are being safe, one never really knows what is happening inside a person's mind.

We live in a tiny town and everyone knows us as the owners. Many of our tenants are people we go to church with.

How would you suggest we change this from us being the owners to the managers?

For reasons apart from safety, we have recently have transferred most of the the rentals into a new LLC and have changed banks.

With all the changes, this would be a great time to become the manager.

Renne,

Some thoughts...

If your properties are in an LLC, legally the LLC is the owner, NOT YOU. You are the Registered Agent or Managing Member.

They now pay rent to the LLC, not you.

"Are you the owner of this rental?" "I manage for the owner."

I don't buy the small town excuse I hear so often. We have 10 properties in a 1,000 person town. New people into town to rent. Other people die off. I don't know all 1,000 people. Not everyone goes to church. Not everyone looks up property records.

Quit braggin' about being a big shot LL.

Success in business comes from finding ways to "get around" problems.

FACT: People are MUCH less likely to be angry at a mere manager than the owner. Managers are helpful. Owners are money grubbers.

In the big picture, what does it hurt to TRY to protect yourself and family with a title?

Your best safety defense is to THINK and ACT safely.

At National Convention Jeffrey has repeatedly promoted wearing a shirt embroidered with MANAGER.

I have guns but I don't wear them. When attacked it takes time to react, reach for it, aim, decide...baddies know to charge in fast to catch their prey off guard. and off balance. And once they grab or hit you they are too close to reach for your gun, OR they took YOUR gun.

I can't help but believe my friend would still be alive if he had presented himself as the manager instead of the owner who had total authority to let the res stay. But he was old school.

Renne, Do what you can to protect yourself and your family.

Brad, I disagree with you about the firearm.

It is not a talisman, but rather a tool. You train with it, prepare for every scenario you can and pray that you never need it.

Train, train, train.

There are more things that you can protect yourself with than a firearm as well. I still remember the two day course I took in Columbus, IN that dealt with non-firearms tactics more than anything else. I was bruised and battered but came away with a lot more insight.

Brad, so sorry to hear this and that you lost a friend. I might know Jerry if I saw him.

We have so few murders (or any violent crime for that matter) in our relatively safe town that each time is a very sad event...we don't get numb to it like in many larger or more dangerous cities.

We selected the city we're moving to largely based on 5 key criteria...and one of those was safety. You can't avoid crime altogether, but certainly some areas are safer than others.

Thanks, Brad.