District of Columbia  |  Criminal Law

If the intruder were armed and clearly breaking into your home (preferably under the cover of darkness) you could likely fire on him without concern for adverse legal repercussions. However, if the malefactor were unarmed and apparently breaking into your place, it could be more problematical for you (legally speaking) if your were to fire on him, depending upon the particular facts and circumstances involved in the situation and, it would probably not be as easy for you to claim self defense as in the first instance.

Whichever the case, however, best to call the cops ASAP.