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.”
Probably. But their ‘logic’ makes no sense.
They should concentrate on responding “so quickly” to ALL reports of burglars, that the criminal is still trying to commit his crime when they arrive. However, they ESPECIALLY should make this effort when the intended victim is NOT ‘armed to protect his family’.
Definately Castle Law applicable.
Bunch of squirrelyass lib pols and MSM in CC.
If the cops saw the perp, why didn’t THEY stop him? Maybe was some 2nd cousin from other side of Rio Grande just wanting a little part of Texas back?
If perp knew cops were on the scene and kept on, prolly drugged up, then the shooting was perfecto.
Some punk w.. b... break in here and result will be the same, cept 911 will be more or less an after action report..
I agree, but it makes me wonder if when calling 911 to report a break-in in progress, burglery, or prowlers on the premises a homeowner NEEDS to report that he is armed to more or less light a fire under the responding officers to arrive quicker than they normally would. It's really sad to think officers respond quicker if they know it's likely the homeowner will shoot the intruder. It's a convaluted logic, to say the least. Makes me wonder just who the heck the officers are more concerned with protecting. Hopefully this was just bad reporting on the journalist's part.
God Bless Texas!
God Bless Texas!
I hate to be callous - OK, not really. The way I look at it is: “He shoots. He scores!”
There is no reason to keep this homeowner concerned about possible prosecution.
Anyone making a call on the facts as reported by the police would say “no prosecution”.
The DA should give the homeowner a good citizen award instead of keeping him on tenterhooks.
Is the DA running for office or concerned about the hispanic/criminal/zombie voting blocs?
The bad part would be if the homeowner didn't tell the police he was armed with a possibly tragic ending.
At age 18 one can be drafted (if the draft comes back) and forced to go to war.
At age 18 one can vote.
At age 18 one is responsible as an adult for their actions.
At age 18 one IS AN ADULT.
So why does the MSM insist on calling an 18 year old ADULT a teen, implying that person is still a child?
For all legal purposes, a “teen” is age 13 to 17, and 18/19 year olds are adults.
OK, I'm done with my rant for the day.
“Boy the author of this story sure seems to think self defense is wrong.”
Also, he obviously knows NOTHING about the “castle doctrine” law.
Good boy, turning his life around, going back to school, helps his momma, made a mistake, wrong crowd, etc, etc.
Uh, read closer kid, shoulda been “SHE”.
>> Boy the author of this story sure seems to think self defense is wrong.
That’s what you can expect from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. They’re one of the worst purveyors of left-wing-biased fishwrap in the entire state.
“Officials responded so quickly to the report.....”
TRANSLATION—The evil, gun crazed homeowner was obviously NOT justified in shooting this poor, defenseless victim of society. The police could have handled the situation and taxpayers could have provided counseling to the misunderstood youth. The homeowner should be jailed, his family thrown into the streets and his dog shot!
This non-biased media report brought to you by the Brady Bunch.
Right. Leftist rag..
“Harry, a man’s got to know his own limitations . . .”
This is just one example of why I despise lawyers. The homeowner did the right thing and called 911, but when seconds count, there police arrived in minutes late. The police witnessed the burglar actually breaking in. Now, if that isn't a clearcut case, then what is? There really should be a LEGAL open hunting season on lawyers in Texas.
Just what you expect from our Caller Slimes. Stopped taking this paper years ago. Not even worth it for the Sunday only, with the weekday free, and I still won’t take it.
Along with the inherent joys of Marxism, that's one of the first lessons taught in journalism 101...
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