Knoxville Woman Faces Intruder in Her Home During Late-Night Break-In

Knoxville Woman Wakes Up to Find Unknown Man Inside Her Home

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — In a shocking incident early Friday morning, a Knoxville woman discovered an unknown man inside her home, turning a peaceful night into a tense confrontation. The incident began around 2:15 a.m. when Ellen Roy was startled awake by the sound of chaos.

According to police reports, the man, identified as Isaiah Shuman, 21, had been causing trouble at a nearby bar. After being asked to leave Half Barrel, he threatened an employee before he fled the scene, crashing into a retaining wall on 17th Street. Shuman then ran to the Mechanicsville community, where he ultimately broke into Ellen Roy’s residence.

A Disturbing Wake-Up Call

Roy recounted her frightening experience, saying, “All of a sudden I heard a crash, bang, boom. I jumped up out of my bed and I saw my son tackling this young man at my front door.” She expressed her shock at finding Shuman in her home, stating, “Who are you, you don’t live here?”

It became clear that Shuman was not going to leave easily. Roy’s son attempted to force him out, but the situation escalated quickly when Shuman allegedly assaulted her son. “He literally had my son up against the fridge choking him, trying to kill him,” Roy explained.

In a display of courage, Roy’s husband, Matt, intervened. “He grabbed a frying pan and hit him on top of the head. They both got him out of the house and dragged him out,” she said, describing the moment with urgency and fear.

A Long Thirty Minutes

Inside the home for over 30 minutes, Shuman was reportedly defiant when asked to leave. “We were bickering with this guy trying to convince him he’s got to leave my house,” Roy said. Shuman insisted that he needed to talk to his brother and claimed, “I don’t want to hurt anybody.”

Roy expressed her concern about what might have happened if Shuman had succeeded in his demands. “God knows if he got a hold of somebody, I would have been the first one he would have grabbed,” she stated, still shaken by the event.

After some back-and-forth, Shuman made a puzzling claim: “I can’t move, I broke both my ankles.” Roy responded skeptically, “You look okay to me, you’re standing on two feet.” Ultimately, Roy and her family managed to convince Shuman to leave, although he did take a phone from their home as he exited.

Charges Filed Against the Intruder

As police began to assess the situation, Shuman fled the scene but was later apprehended. Reports indicate he is facing several serious charges, including four counts of aggravated kidnapping, three counts of leaving the scene of an accident, and one count each of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, and reckless endangerment.

This incident has heightened the concerns of local residents about home security and community safety. The encounter has left a lasting impact on the Roy family, who will likely be more vigilant about their surroundings in the future.

As the investigation continues, local authorities remind residents to remain aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity immediately. Community safety is a shared responsibility, and incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the importance of being cautious and prepared.