Wayne Winston, 25, of Missouri, was shot to death Wednesday night by a woman in town for the All-American Quarter Horse Convention.

Police said Winston has a criminal history of theft.

The shooting occurred at about 9 p.m. at the Continent Inn, located on Zumstein Drive near state Route 161 and Interstate 71 on the city's north side.

The Ironton woman and her family members were too tired to attend Wednesday night's events, so they stayed at the hotel to relax.  

As they were sitting in the hotel room with the door cracked open for ventilation, a man armed with a gun stormed inside and demanded money.  

SLIDESHOW:  Images From Scene

He pointed the gun at the family members until one of them handed over a small amount of cash. 

The woman then pulled out her own gun and shot the man, who stumbled into the parking lot and died from his wounds, 10TV's Lindsey Seavert reported.

The woman's family told 10TV they stay at the same hotel every year.

"I was just thankful that a 70-year-old woman was clear-headed enough to do what she did," the woman's son said. "She said 'I'm glad all my family's alive because somebody's crying about that boy tonight"

The woman was questioned by detectives and released Wednesday night.  Police said the shooting appeared justified, although the case will be presented to a Franklin County grand jury for review.

Family members said the woman does have a license to carry the handgun, which is a .357 caliber revolver that belonged to her late husband, Seavert reported.

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