Montgomery Police: Homeowner Shoots Burglary Suspect in Vaughn Meadows(AL)

waka.com ^ | 3 January, 2012 | Katy Sulhoff

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Montgomery Police say a homeowner in the Vaughn Meadows subdivision shot a suspected intruder after an attempted vehicle break-in.

It happened at 3:45 Tuesday morning in the 3100 block of Corwin Drive.

Police say the homeowner spotted an intruder trying to break into his vehicles parked in the driveway.

They say he confronted the suspect with a gun, got into a fight with the suspect and in the scuffle, the suspect was shot in the leg and the homeowner injured his knee.

Neighbors say they feel uneasy about the crime.

"You feel like your privacy has been invaded and you just really don't want to stay in your house," Tom Watson said.

"If you do anything to them about it, if they invade your home, well then you're going to be the one in trouble and they're gonna set the thieves free so they can go do it to somebody else," said James McNeil.

Charges have not been filed against the homeowner at this time. The shooting is under investigation. The investigative report will be sent to the District Attorney's office for review.

Charges are pending against the suspect once he's released from the hospital.

For information on Alabama's Castle Doctrine follow the below link. The law was passed in 2006 to give homeowners the right to use necessary force against an intruder under certain circumstances.

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If you attempt an arrest, and the suspect attacks you, you can defend yourself with appropriate force. If you are fighting for control of a deadly weapon, use of deadly force is likely justified.