Posted on 05/23/2011 7:27:11 AM PDT by Hang'emAll
CORPUS CHRISTI — A man was shot and killed inside a St. Andrews Drive home by the homeowner who had called 911 to report a burglary in progress early Sunday.
Police said Steven Daniel Abrego, 18, broke into the home about 2:30 a.m. and was shot almost immediately once inside.
In the 911 call, the 78-year-old homeowner, whose name was not released, told police that someone was trying to break into his home. He also told them he was armed to protect his family.
Officials responded so quickly to the report in the 5700 block of St. Andrews Drive that they arrived and saw someone still attempting to get in the house through a back entrance.
Police ordered the man to stop but he didn’t stop, and he was able to force his way into the home, spokeswoman Julie Garcia said.
Moments later two shots from a handgun were fired, Lt. Isaac Valencia said.
“You have the intruder there and officers are coming up,” Valencia said. “But a gun is involved, so they just can’t run up and grab him.”
Abrego was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial, where he later died.
St. Andrews Drive resident Mary Heimann, 90, said she did not hear the fired shots, but she did see about 10 police cars lining the street at 3 a.m. and was worried.
“This is usually a quiet neighborhood,” she said. “So that’s what makes us jumpy.”
No arrests have been made and detectives from the homicide division still are investigating.
“At this point we will have to pursue the investigation and the facts and evidence will have to speak for themselves,” Valencia said.
Once complete, the case will be turned over to the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office for review because it falls under the castle doctrine, a Texas law that allows the use of deadly force to protect people and property.
“The questions is, does the homeowner have the right to use this deadly force,” District Attorney Mark Skurka said. “If it’s not justified they could face criminal charges.”
Circumstances will vary, but generally if a person’s life is threatened they are permitted deadly force.
“Breaking into someone’s home is definitely one of those circumstances,” Skurka said.
The castle doctrine applied to a Corpus Christi home invasion shooting in 2009, Valencia said. Two men charged into the house firing shots and the homeowner fired back. One burglar was killed on the living room floor and the other fled the house. Police are still trying to him, he said.
Whether the case is justifiable or not, it still can be a traumatic event.
“The 78-year-old was very shaken up. In the twilight of your life and you have to take a life,” Valencia said. “You’re protecting your property and family.”
Boy the author of this story sure seems to think self defense is wrong.
I’m wondering if they’re Amish or illegal.
If you are armed, it is probably often better not to trouble the police until the situation is resolved.
Just a little bit of bias.
Another child taken by a gun.
Sorry that the elderly person had to be put through this trauma, but glad he did what he needed to do to protect himself, family, and home.
One less scumbag on the streets consuming oxygen.
Officials responded so quickly to the report.....
I'm wondering if the former comment caused the latter officer action......
Man did what he had to do.
He might have figured on taking a hostage, which makes shooting him even more appropriate.
Lol, “teen!”
I don’t see what the question is. The fact that this guy ‘forcefully’ broke into the house even after police had arrived is more than enough justification for this homeowner’s response.
Sounds like the teen was after somebody in that house. And now he's dead. Bye-bye.
It’s odd behaviour. I wonder if he was on drugs.
That was one really stupid or stoned kid.
Permitted? Nah... no bias in this jackasses reporting is there. Where do they find these people?
That’s some pretty good sarcasm, right there...
Wow, the citizen is “permitted” in some circumstances. Used to be the govt needed permissions, not the people.
As for the “teen,” it sounds like he was on drugs, if he’s got an announced “armed citizen” in front of him and police at his rear, and he still breaks in.
Otherwise, it’s an odd way to go about suicide.
Or in burglarese, a "shirley temple."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.