Braydon Smith never forgot what his dad, Christopher, taught him after their home was burglarized a few years back: “If they come in the door, you let ’em have it.”

He didn’t think he’d be heeding his father’s lesson so soon.

In June 2019, Braydon was home alone in Mebane, North Carolina. He was on the phone with his mom when a 19-year-old man reportedly broke in through a window.

The intruder, who was allegedly being helped by two accomplices, approached Braydon and told him to shut himself in a closet while the man attempted to steal various items — but the brave boy was determined to protect his home and his family’s possessions.

In an interview with ABC11, Braydon describes in terrifying detail what happened next: “He pointed a pellet gun at me that was located in our house. I knew that it wasn’t loaded so I just sat down and got in my closet like he told me to. He went into the living room to grab my phone to make sure I didn’t call the 911 or anything.”

Braydon noticed the intruder trying to put that phone in his pocket. And as soon as the man turned his back, Braydon took the opportunity to run and grab his machete (which, normally, he only uses to help his dad chop down trees).

Watch the video to see what Braydon did next in the effort to thwart the intruder’s plan.