WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) - A man won't be charged for fatally wounding another man with a baseball bat after the man broke into his home over the weekend, state police said Monday.

James Liermann, of Somerset Township, struck Andrew Lock, 40, of Hamburg, N.Y., in the head with a bat after Lock broke through a window and injured Liermann's 7-year-old son, police said. Lock died of head injuries from the blows on Friday, according to a coroner's report.

Lock, who had a history of depression, crashed a Dodge Neon into a utility pole in Washington County about 8:30 p.m. Friday and then broke into a nearby house where he assaulted the boy, according to police.

The boy, also named James Liermann, had his neck cut by flying glass when Lock broke in. Liermann was released from Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh early Monday morning.

State police said the elder James Liermann hit Lock with a baseball bat. Police consulted with Washington County District Attorney John Pettit, who determined Liermann was justified in striking Lock.

Police in New York said Lock's family reported him missing Friday. Family members told police that Lock had recently suffered a breakdown.

Pennsylvania state police said the Liermanns had no connection to Lock.

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Quoted:
Just keep your bat and your balls stored separately.  For safety's sake.

Quoted:

Now if the dad had beaten him 20-30 times with the bat, might be a different story.