Heart-stopping moment hero grandma, 45, shoots intruder who burst into her home while she was watching Taylor Swift movie with young granddaughter and attacked her

Anissa Tinnin, 45, was spending the night with her four-year-old granddaughter when a stranger suddenly burst into her Albuquerque home

A New Mexico grandmother is being praised as a hero for shooting a burglar who invaded her home and attacked her while she and her granddaughter were watching a Taylor Swift movie.

Anissa Tinnin, 45, was excited that her granddaughter was staying overnight at her Albuquerque residence. They enjoyed dinner, bathed, and snuggled on the couch watching Taylor Swift's Eras Tour film.

The man, 32-year-old Joseph Rivera, was fleeing police when he hopped a fence on Tinnin's property and broke into her house

"We had our popcorn and M&M's, dancing and singing along, when our lives were about to suddenly change," Tinnin wrote on Facebook, recalling the night of March 21.

However, the peaceful evening took a frightening turn when an unfamiliar man barged in through the front door. The grandmother later discovered that he had scaled a fence on the property, all captured on a Ring camera.

Rivera was charged with burglary, attempting to commit a felony and auto theft, and ordered to stay behind bars on Thursday

"I jumped over this couch and we met there by the front door," Tinnin told KRQE. "That's when he grabbed me and was upset and said to give him my keys. He said he didn't want to go to jail. He did threaten to hurt my granddaughter and me."

The intruder, 32-year-old Joseph Rivera, was a convicted felon being pursued by the police. Seeking to evade detection, he broke into Tinnin's home and demanded her Range Rover Sport's keys.

While Tinnin searched for her keys, she called 911. "I told him to not hurt us, that I would do whatever he wanted. I would give him keys, money, whatever it took," she explained.

Tinnin opened fire when the man returned to the home. She rendered first aid and stayed with him until police arrived

Rivera eventually grabbed a key fob and headed for the car, prompting Tinnin to plead with the 911 operator. She also instructed her granddaughter to stay in a bedroom for safety.

As sirens approached, Rivera returned and attempted to force his way in. Tinnin warned him and fired her gun as he continued to advance.

"Why did you shoot me?" Rivera demanded.

"Because you're in my house!" Tinnin responded.

The 32-year-old has a lengthy rap sheet including five prior felony convictions

Afterward, Tinnin assisted Rivera by applying pressure to his wound and offering water, with a stern warning against further harm.

Rivera, spotted in a stolen car and pursued by police, crashed the vehicle and fled on foot before being apprehended. He was hospitalized and subsequently ordered to remain in custody during a court appearance.

Reflecting on the incident, Tinnin expressed her desire for Rivera to face full accountability, rejecting any plea deals. Her granddaughter, still traumatized, now harbors fears related to the night's events.

Tinnin also criticized the city of Albuquerque for what she perceives as a rise in criminal activity, calling attention to the impact on innocent lives. Rivera faces charges including burglary, attempted felony, and auto theft, alongside previous felony convictions.