In the quiet town of Mountain Home, Arkansas, the life of 34-year-old Paul James Assaf, a male, came to a tragic end on the evening of July 4, 2017. The events of that night unfolded at the residence of his 79-year-old grandmother, Paula Robins.
The evening was shattered by a loud noise that roused Robins from her bed, accompanied by the frantic barking of her dogs. She soon heard someone moving through the hallway and toward her bedroom.
The intruder, whom she recognized as her grandson, Paul, entered her room and proceeded into the master bathroom. Despite her shouting at him to get out and warning him that she had a gun, Assaf claimed to be armed as well.
A tense standoff ensued, with Assaf pointing what appeared to be a weapon from around the corner of the bathroom. He then charged into the bedroom towards his grandmother, telling her to lower her weapon and that she wouldn't shoot him. Seeing what she believed to be a pistol in her grandson's hand, Robins fired her. 38 caliber revolver once.
When law enforcement arrived at the Richwood Drive residence, they found Paul James Assaf in the bedroom without a pulse. Medical personnel were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Near his body, officers discovered a black semi-automatic handgun which, upon closer inspection, was determined to be a plastic BB gun. Investigators also found that the back door of the home had been forcibly kicked in, allowing Assaf to gain entry.
Further investigation by the Mountain Home Police Department and the Arkansas State Police revealed a history of a deteriorating relationship between Assaf and his grandmother due to his aggressive behavior, which had caused her to fear for her life in the months leading up to the incident. Following a thorough review of the evidence, the 14th Judicial District Prosecutor's Office concluded that the shooting was justified as an act of self-defense. Consequently, no arrests were made in connection with the death of Paul James Assaf.
