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twitterWoman, intruder shot during home invasion attempt
Published Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 10:16 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, July 29, 2009 | 2:35 p.m.
Home invasion
An attempted home invasion late Tuesday in North Las Vegas resulted in an exchange of gunfire and a woman and an intruder being shot.
Police said someone tried to enter a home shortly before midnight in the 4100 block of Karma Drive, between West Craig and Alexander roads, when the homeowner opened fire. The intruder fired back and injured the woman, authorities said.
Officers were dispatched to the home at 11:52 p.m. and upon arrival found a 31-year-old North Las Vegas resident with gunshot wounds to her leg. The injured woman said she had exchanged gunfire with unidentified men who had entered her home and threatened to shoot her 14-year-old son.
The boy wasn’t injured.
Police found a blood trail that left the residence and ended in the street in front of the house.
Sgt. Tim Bedwell of the North Las Vegas Police Department said he isn't sure who fired first.
He said the woman suffered a minor non-life threatening gunshot wound and was transported to University Medical Center. At the hospital, officers were notified a male gunshot victim had recently arrived to be treated who matched the description of one of the suspects.
His injuries are described as serious but non-life threatening.
Authorities said they do not know if the woman knew the intruder. Bedwell said an arrest hasn’t been made in the case.
Discussion: 41 comments so far…
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I'm pretty sure the homeowner shot first, Sgt Bedwell. Too bad she didn't kill him.
Where are the anti-gun zealots on this one? God bless that woman for protecting her son and herself.
Comment removed by staff.
first...
north las vegas?
shocker, huh?
too bad it's just a "stigma" that no major grocery store wants to be there.
second...
this is why you bleeding heart hippie liberals need to shut up.
this could have been YOUR home.
also, everyone...PLEASE "suggest removal" for all spam.
i have a business, and i don't put my link on my posts.
you want advertising? buy an ad.
It's a big problem that the intruder lived, certainly some slimy attorney will be representing the intruder and suing the homeowner. It's always better to have a dead intruder and only one side to the story
It really sucks that she did not manage to kill him. She needs some more training and a bigger gun. I hope they give this guy a life sentence for attempted murder.
Good for her! let the be a lesson for all home invaders!
I just LOVE it when home invaders get shot!!
The sad part is that the scumbag survived, and now he and his friends all know where this lady lives. I would pack my gun and my kid, and move STAT.
I'm all for defending your property and based on what we see here I am in full support of this homeowner.
My only "BUT" is I wonder what the full story is. Very VERY few cases of random day-time armed home invaders. Burglers don't want confronations and know the risk of HEAVILY increased jail time if caught with a gun during a burglery. Robbery carries a much stiffer sentence.
Granted this could be a case of totally random armed home invader, but pure odds state that it is a attack by a known person or a drug related incident.
Just speaking the odds, not implicating the woman in any way.
You come in my house uninvited you will leave in a body bag period...I'm ready in all cases...Good for that woman
STV,
This seems to be becoming more and more frequent in the valley. A lot of home invasions are taking place when people are home. Some in the evening, a lot in the morning hours, and an increasing number of daytime home invasions are taking place. It is likely that the robbers didn't expect anyone to be there.
She should for sure moved now. No reason to stay where his friends can come get even. All these dirtbags run in groups because they are all weak. I also wish she would have killed him. Maybe she should have kept firing until she ran out of bullets. It is always best to finish the execution so only one side can be explained. Someone needs to publish the intruders name so we can all watch to make sure he does not get a chance for revenge. I want to thank her for owning a weapon and using it. If all these invaders got an ass full of lead they would quit doing this.
And please buy a bigger gun in case this happens again. I use a short barrel 12 gauge and a 40 cal for home defense and 9mm for my truck. Oh and an AR15 for the garage. Hope I never have to use them but if I do you can bet I will be expending all the bullets into the intruder.
I would seriously be afraid to not kill the intruder. I would never trust that he won't come back after I shot his ass and let him live.
Please read before you post!
The first sentence says, "An attempted home invasion LATE Tuesday". It happened around midnight, so please stop with the daytime invasion talk until it is applicable.
And I agree with the person who posted earlier, this probably isn't random. I want to hear more details, but this will be forgotten by tonight and we will never hear another thing about it.
And as far as gun possessions go, if you are not an idiot, go ahead and arm yourself, but the bigger concern is that there are so many people that we have to be worried about now. I think if you don't put yourself in bad situations, that will do more to keep you safe than having an ak47 in your bedroom closet.
"I think if you don't put yourself in bad situations, that will do more to keep you safe than having an ak47 in your bedroom closet."
I agree totally. But I think you should do both.
Ammoman.com has a sale on 7.62x39 ammo too! :-)
"I think if you don't put yourself in bad situations, that will do more to keep you safe than having an ak47"
It would be lovely if that were the kind of world we lived in. At one point when I was about 20yrs. old, I lived alone in a crappy apartment. I was broken into twice within 3 months. The first time, I was asleep and never woke up, the second time, I walked in on them.
I decided to arm myself, and shoot the next SOB that came in the door or window. Wouldn't you know I never got robbed again? I have long since moved, and I vow I will still shoot the next SOB that tries to come in my home.
I could have been killed. Also, just a note, I was a good kid, worked hard, didn't use drugs or even drink. Just trying to live on my own for the first time in an apartment I could afford on my salary. I did not know the intruders, but they did end up doing jail time. They were wanted for an armed robbery of the Target on Maryland & Flamingo!
More firepower translates into less survivors.
Too bad the POS survived, maybe he can get a virulent staff infection that will finish him off.
I hope the victim has a speedy recovery.
Henderson, I don't disagree with what you wrote, however the news rarely follows up with a story to give the details on WHY armed intruders broke into a residence.
I was present at a meeting where a Metro Division Commander stated that armed home intruders are almost always there for a specific purpose and not a random crime. Drugs, gambling, etc., but not just a random act. he went on to say that most armed intruders attack in the late evening - early morning hours while most burglers are mid-day while most homeowners are at work. Again he stated that burglers don't (typically) carry weapons other than hand tools.
I think the update to this article sheds a little more light on the subject. The intruder threatened to kill the teenager in the home... Read into that as you will.
The intruder CANNOT sue the homeowner in this state. They have NO foot to stand on. They will lose their case in a heartbeat. We have the Castle law here.
Her son may very well have known the intruder.
I just know from my past experience of having 2 home invasions, that sometimes people prey on easy targets, people that live alone, or a single mother. People have told me, "the odds of you having another breakin are slim to none", but the way I look at it is, it's already happened twice, so you will never convince me it won't happen again. I will be ready next time, and I think everyone should be. This DOES happen to people randomly. I know it's a scary thought, but it's not half as scary as having people break your window and climb in your house in the middle of the night.
Just think about what you would do and how you would protect your family.
Jspense,
I don't think the Castle Doctrine has passed here. I think it was killed in assembly.
She should have put more than one cap in his arss.
As for the anti-gun, he (intruder) will never be allowed to own a firearm in this life.
Who else was with him, did he have a get-away car, we need to find all his accomplices and put them in the pokey too.
We don't have the Castle Doctrine, but an intruder CANNOT sue a homeowner when THEY break in and get shot at. The Castle Doctrine is shooting someone on your property. The castle law (not sure that's the exact name, that's what it was called in Phoenix) is "my home is my castle".. once someone steps into your home, you can use lethal force as long as they are not trying to leave your home. Example, you cannot shoot someone in the back. A lawsuit against the homeowner just not going to happen. The intruder can try, but they will lose every dime they had left... if they even had money. If you're breaking into a home, I doubt you have money to begin with though.
Henderson,
This comment is true but,
"I just know from my past experience of having 2 home invasions, that sometimes people prey on easy targets, people that live alone, or a single mother. People have told me, "the odds of you having another breakin are slim to none", but the way I look at it is, it's already happened twice, so you will never convince me it won't happen again. I will be ready next time, and I think everyone should be. This DOES happen to people randomly. I know it's a scary thought, but it's not half as scary as having people break your window and climb in your house in the middle of the night."
But as you said, one time you didn't wake up, and the other time you walked in on somebody. In both cases a gun would not help you, unless you carry it at all times, and sleep with it, and are so paranoid that every time you walk into your house it is drawn. I sympathize with your experiences, my wife was robbed a gunpoint, and a gun under our bed would not have helped her then either. I think for every instance like this article points out where an honest citizen (we'll see when the facts come out) defends themselves, there are several cases like last week where people are killed accidentally by guns, usually kids. So I'll go back to my original point, if you are not an idiot feel free to own a gun, but you probably won't have it when you need it. I am not anti-gun, I come from rural Washington where one in two people is a hunter, but I am not a big advocate either. If they give you piece of mind, by all means get one.
Good points Travis,
My time in that apartment was the only time in my life I wasn't able to have a dog. Today, if someone snuck in my house in the middle of the night I would know they were there long before they climbed through the window they broke.
Good thing the homeowner had a gun or this would have been spun as a negative story on how an intruder gunned down and innocent homeowner. Guns aren't evil, violent criminals are. Too bad the predator escaped though he may think twice before trying something similar in the future. A gunshot wound is more likely to rehabilitate than a revolving door sentence.
It is the right of every citizen to be able to defend themselves.
Great job homeowner.
JSpence07 - an intruder also cannot sue if they're dead.
I agree that a large, protective, territorial dog is the best first line of defense(I have two). My dogs would give me time to grab a handgun and shoot the SOB just about the time he was begging me to. Good Doggies!
labdaddy is right; A dog is much better protection than a gun.
All of you gun advocates posting on this story ought to wait until the facts come out. STV is correct.
Most of these types of crimes are perpetrated upon people the invader KNOWS. RANDOM home invasions are much less common.
Both times my apartment was broken into it was completely random, and I did not know the intruders. I'm confident in that because anyone who knew me knew how broke I was. I'm not sure who broke in the first time. The second time, they were caught and told the police they had been watching my place, they knew that I lived alone and worked nights. They were also loaded out of their mind on drugs. The police believed it was the same people that broke in the first time, but proving was impossible.
Be prepared because it can happen to you.
"At the hospital, officers were notified a male gunshot victim had recently arrived to be treated who matched the description of one of the suspects."
So the cops had the suspect and he wasn't arrested??
Funny thing none of you argued that point.
KillerB,
Are gunshot wounds so common in Las Vegas that when they show up at the hospital even the police do not consider it "probable cause" for an arrest?
"I use a short barrel 12 gauge and a 40 cal for home defense and 9mm for my truck. Oh and an AR15 for the garage. Hope I never have to use them but if I do you can bet I will be expending all the bullets into the intruder."
You sound like a real sane person...2 guns for the house, an assault rifle for the garage and a 9mm for your truck. Where do you live, downtown Mogadishu?
One gun is more than enough to protect yourself and your home, you sound like a real tough guy flaunting all your firepower there Dirty Harry. Rule #1 - those who talk tough are typically the weakest links. Just remember, Tackleberry, if you pull it out you better be ready to use it...talking tough only gets you so far.
Does it even matter who "shot first". If he was inside the home and univited did she not have a right to either shoot first or at the very least 'shoot back'. Wondering why this point was even approached to begin with...........
and this comes from someone who does NOT advocate guns in any way, shape or form but who also does NOT want to impose 'my' feelings on those who advocate owning them. For me it's all about 'personal choices'.
Just when will you all grow up, instead of playing the good guys and the baddies.
castle -- how would I know? But obviously it was suspicious enough the hospital called the cops and they made the match.
azsk8fan -- coming from someone who has been in a similar situation, your weapon first gives you control of the intrusion, then defense as warranted.
My daughter is about the same age as this woman. Since there were multiple intruders I would say it's reasonable in that situation to shoot before getting too inquisitive. Safety first!
A comment on dogs. Dogs are a really good alarm. But they aren't very good at defending your home if the guy has a gun or pepper spray. Forget the dog, beware the homeowner.
I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire thirty shots or only twenty nine?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a AR-15, the most powerful semi-auto rifle in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?
this is the worst type of crime. i could not imagine being intruded on in my own home. it was bad enough for me living with a room mate who came and went as she pleased. but thats karma for the intruder. because now he is injured so he has a decision to make. die and never go to jail...or get treated and caught. the nerve of him to fire back!
Can someone explain why it matters that someone may know the invader? As far as I am concerned who dunnit is a question for the police department to answer. If ANYONE was to force their way into my home uninvited, I wouldn't offer them a tall drink but instead a tall shotgun in their ___ - you can finish the rest of that sentence. As for a dog, they bark and all, but if the intruder has a gun you will have a dead dog... Have the gun or have a gun and a dog!!! The choice is yours, but as for me, I would rather be safe than sorry. I'll take a gun thank you!
I hope the victim has enough sense to buy extra clips for her gun before heading home from the hospital...