SAPD: Homeowner guns down suspected burglar

[pbwalker]

Investigators say he grabbed his shotgun just as two men with an assault rifle entered his home. Police at the scene say there was a gunfight in the kitchen of the home. The homeowner suffered a gunshot wound to the face, but police say he was able to fire several shots at the suspects.

One of the suspects was pronounced dead on the scene. The second suspect ran out of the home to a waiting car. He was driven to North East Baptist Hospital by his girlfriend and then taken by AirLife to San Antonio Military Medical Center with a gunshot wound to the chest. His girlfriend was taken into custody.

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Last I heard, the homeowner was in stable condition with a GSW to the chin.

[thedeceiver]

Wonder what the homeowner was up to.... Common criminals don't generally break into homes with assault rifles.

[Keith B]

Assault rifle is a poor term, but commonly used by the media. I will be willing to bet it was an SKS or possibly an AK which are pretty commonly used among thugs. No reason to suspect he homeowner of anything IMO.

[alphonso]

Wonder what the homeowner was up to.... Common criminals don't generally break into homes with assault rifles.

I find the post above kind of frightening.

If, God forbid, someone broke into my house in the middle of the night and I had to shoot them the last thing I would need would be an arm-chair stranger who knows not a single thing about me or the details of the incident to "assume" that I was some sort of bad guy who had it coming.

Wow!

[speedsix]

...even a drug dealer's got the right to protect his castle...

[Fangs]

Investigators say he grabbed his shotgun just as two men with an AR-15 assault rifle entered his home.

Aren't those generally a bit more expensive than an AK or an SKS? How much do y'all wanna bet it's a stolen gun?

I also don't see a reason to accuse the homeowner of anything besides being a victim just yet. I'm sure if it was gang-related or something they'll report it eventually.

Edited to add: So far every comment on the article is in favor of the homeowner's actions.

[Scott in Houston]

Wonder what the homeowner was up to.... Common criminals don't generally break into homes with assault rifles.

I find the post above kind of frightening.

If, God forbid, someone broke into my house in the middle of the night and I had to shoot them the last thing I would need would be an arm-chair stranger who knows not a single thing about me or the details of the incident to "assume" that I was some sort of bad guy who had it coming.

Wow!

I kind of share your sentiment, but to be fair, in most of these scenarios... by a large margin in fact, it's not 'random'.
There was a recent story here in Houston (Katy area) of a father killed by a home invasion with his kids in the house. It sounded horrible and people were understandably pouring out grief and love for this family. Turns out, the dad was involved in drugs and it was a drug deal gone awry.

I agree the benefit of the doubt should be given to the home owner, especially by the police/DA, etc, but as a message board participant this kind of speculation is pretty understandable.

[speedsix]

...that's gettin' yer cheek pierced the HARD way...

[bayouhazard]

I kind of share your sentiment, but to be fair, in most of these scenarios... by a large margin in fact, it's not 'random.

That's true. In many if not most home invasions, the invaders picked the house because they knew there was something worth stealing. Sometimes it's drugs. Sometimes it's jewelry or a coin collection or a gun collection.

[speedsix]

...a lot of home invasions are aimed at folks who own stores or are self-employed...there's a good chance cash will be there...or aimed at ethnic groups who shun banks/paperwork because they're illegal and don't want a paper trail...just like burglars have long targeted old folks who, because of the Depression crash, don't trust banks...


...all criminals aren't stupid...some even brush their teeth once in awhile...

[thedeceiver]

Wonder what the homeowner was up to.... Common criminals don't generally break into homes with assault rifles.

I find the post above kind of frightening.

If, God forbid, someone broke into my house in the middle of the night and I had to shoot them the last thing I would need would be an arm-chair stranger who knows not a single thing about me or the details of the incident to "assume" that I was some sort of bad guy who had it coming.

Wow!

I'm certainly not saying the homeowner had it coming... I'm not really sure anyone "deserves" to be shot, I was simply noting the fact that the use of an AR-15 for a run of the mill home invasion seems like overkill.

You're also assuming the homeowner has done nothing wrong and that he was just a victim of a "random" home invasion. My point was not that his home was invaded, nor that a gun was used, but to bring an assault rifle? Someone was planning on the person being home and being armed. That's hardly random.

I

[speedsix]

...or his mousegun was in the shop...

[ajwakeboarder]

I'm certainly not saying the homeowner had it coming... I'm not really sure anyone "deserves" to be shot, I was simply noting the fact that the use of an AR-15 for a run of the mill home invasion seems like overkill.


I

I have to disagree. There are people who deserve to be shot. In my book Rapist and Pedophiles usually deserve it.

[Kabong30]

Maybe it's just me (and it really could be), but there is a really negative connotation to "guns down". I realize it's semantics, just an observation.

[Zoomie72]

I am keeping my mouth shut out of respect for those involved, but I would be VERY surprised to find out that the home was targeted for any reason that is the fault of the family.