Video: Father in Wheelchair Uses His Legal Firearm to Stop Home Invasion—A Perfect 2A Moment

In a heart-pounding encounter that underscores the vital role of the Second Amendment, a wheelchair-bound father in southeast Albuquerque turned the tide on a dangerous home invader using nothing more than his legally owned firearm and sheer determination. This isn’t just a story of survival—it’s a shining example of how the right to keep and bear arms empowers even the most vulnerable Americans to protect themselves and their loved ones when law enforcement can’t be there in time.

The ordeal unfolded on a recent morning when Michael Salas, a man with a lengthy history of burglary arrests and convictions, burst into the apartment of Anthony Nichogi and his young son.
Salas was already on the run from Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers after allegedly breaking into another home, leading them on a high-speed car chase tracked by a GPS dart, and then fleeing on foot. Desperate to evade capture, he attempted to hide by forcing his way into multiple residences in the area, ultimately entering Nichogi’s unlocked apartment just after Nichogi’s wife had left for the day.Alone with his son and confined to a wheelchair, Nichogi faced a terrifying threat. “I was in fear for my life and my son,” he later recounted. As Salas followed him into the bedroom, reaching out aggressively, Nichogi repeatedly demanded he leave: “He reached for me and I told him, please don’t touch me. Please get out of my house.” In a surge of adrenaline, Nichogi stood from his wheelchair, retrieved his handgun—instead of grabbing mace—and commanded the intruder to back off. The mere sight of the firearm was enough; Salas fled the scene, scrambling onto a neighboring roof where APD officers quickly apprehended him.Police also arrested an alleged accomplice, Christina Herrera, charging her with residential burglary.

Video:

Salas now faces multiple charges, including burglary, fleeing from police, and reckless driving. Nichogi, a vigilant homeowner who had endured prior break-ins in the neighborhood and kept five years’ worth of video footage, reflected on the moment: “I never expected to have to defend my home like that. This is a first for me.”

This incident is a textbook “perfect 2A moment,” illustrating how the Second Amendment levels the playing field for those who might otherwise be at a severe disadvantage. Here was a father with a physical disability, protecting his child from a hardened criminal with a history of violence—all without firing a single shot. The gun’s presence alone deterred the threat, proving that responsible firearm ownership saves lives and prevents escalation.

Critics of the Second Amendment often argue for stricter gun control, claiming it would reduce violence. But stories like Nichogi’s reveal the truth: law-abiding citizens, especially the vulnerable, rely on their constitutional rights for self-defense far more often than the media highlights. The right to bear arms isn’t about promoting aggression; it’s rooted in the natural right to protect oneself from crime and tyranny. Without it, Nichogi’s story might have ended in tragedy, with a disabled man and his son at the mercy of a repeat offender.

Gun owners like Nichogi understand the weight of that responsibility. They hope never to draw their weapon, but when danger invades their home, they’re prepared—thanks to the foresight of our nation’s founders. In Albuquerque, this wheelchair-bound dad didn’t just scare off a burglar; he embodied the essence of American resilience and the enduring power of the Second Amendment.

As threats like home invasions persist, let’s celebrate these unsung heroes who stand firm. The Second Amendment isn’t optional—it’s essential for safeguarding liberty, one defended home at a time.