Posted on 04/10/2012 6:16:50 AM PDT by marktwain
DALLAS — Two teenagers are in custody and a third is dead after an attempted break-in in southeast Dallas on Monday morning.
Police said the suspects were betting on entering an empty house — not facing an armed homeowner.
Investigators said the three young people rang the front doorbell of Lee Cobler's home in the 7300 block of Vallejo Drive. When no one answered, they went around the back and started trying to kick the door in.
But Cobler, 51, was at home with an adult son. The son was on the phone with 911 when police said Cobler opened fire on the intruders, killing 14-year-old Luis Avila, a student at Hood Middle School.
"He was able to make the right choice to protect his child," said Shirley Starks, president of the local homeowners' association. "It was important, because he did not know that those — whoever was coming through that door — was not going to kill all of them."
Investigators are not saying that the teenagers were armed, but police were at Hood Middle School Monday afternoon interviewing students and offering counseling.
Principal C.A. Williams sent out a letter to parents explaining that one of their students was killed in a burglary attempt. "Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with the family and close friends of the student who is no longer with us," she wrote.
News 8 captured a video showing what's believed to be one of the teenage suspects being arrested just a few blocks away from the shooting scene.
"It's surprising like to see like kids — 13-year-old kids — like breaking in nowadays," added Sarah Trevino, who was watching what happened.
Residents in the Piedmont neighborhood have been on high alert after four burglaries in recent months, and Crime Watch officials said it was just a matter of time until something ended in a tragedy like this.
"This can happen to any child that is doing something like this," Starks said. "Why weren't the parents watching him to make sure that he wasn't doing something like this, is my question."
Police have the two other suspects in custody, ages 13 and 14. They have been charged with attempted burglary.
Police spokesman Sgt. Warren Mitchell said no charges have been filed against Cobler, but a grand jury will review the circumstances of the fatal shooting.
E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com
The Left hate Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground because it allows whitey to fight back....
So, the world would be better off if there were more 14 year old burglars?
Did I say that?
14 year old hoodlum is more like it. Good riddance. Better a dead 14 y/o hood than whatever was to befall his future victims.
Are you questioning my question?
I’m questioning your ability to read.
Bastiat's "The Law" is a masterpiece.
I also love the words of John Locke:
"Every Man has a Property in his own Person. This no Body has any Right to but himself. The Labor of his Body, and the Work of his Hands, we may say, are properly his. The great and chief end therefore, of Men uniting into Commonwealths, and putting themselves under Government, is the Preservation of their Property."
Sad, another likely ward of the state gone.
Life is tough, it is a lot tougher when you are stupid.
Such a wholesome looking boy..
It should be required reading in every civics class.
Don’t break into houses.
I’m sorry. I thought your comment could have been read to lament the death of a 14 year old burglar. Clearly now I see that I was wrong.
were they adults in many states in would be felony murder
you commit a crime resulting in death even if you didn’t shoot
Have you ever reaad the Old Testament?
God seemed to condone a lot of killing of those who wouldn’t follow His rules.
Good shooting Citizen. Civilization thanks you.
The homeowner did nothing wrong. IMO.
There’s another thread running in which these thugs would be called “daring kids.”
I don’t think they have Civics anymore
Yep. If he had been in school he would not have gotten shot. At 14 you are old enough to know right from wrong.
In sports are they known as the 'Hoodies?'
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