Homeowner shoots, kills man believed to be East Memphis 'cat burglar'

The Commercial Appeal ^ | 6/13/03 | Maria Bibbs

[GailA]

Homeowner shoots, kills man believed to be East Memphis 'cat burglar'

By Maria Bibbs bibbs@gomemphis.com June 13, 2003

Memphis police said Friday that a homeowner shot and killed a man suspected of being the "cat burglar" responsible for more than 60 burglaries in East Memphis and Hickory Hill this spring.

David Washington, 44, was shot early Friday inside a home at 3980 Wildwind near Kirby High School.

Washington was being sought by police, who had charged him last month with an aggravated burglary following an April 6 break-in in the 800 block of Vaughn in East Memphis.

Convicted of aggravated burglary in 1997, Washington was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was released in February. The first "cat burglar" case was March 11.

Police said the "cat burglar" would sneak into a house through an unlocked door or window, or cut through a screen and enter while residents were asleep. He took money and jewelry almost exclusively.

The Central Precinct, where the first rash of burglaries took place in March and early April, saturated the area with canine units, undercover officers and even aviation surveillance, to no avail.

Between March 11 and April 10, the burglar hit 26 homes, likely walking the neighborhood looking for easy targets, police said.

— Maria Bibbs: 529-5896

[GailA]

FYI

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Outstanding. I agree with you. We won't have to worry about this scumbag being a repeat offender anymore.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Bang!!

[dfrussell]

Looks like he won't be getting an early parole this time :)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

This homeowner had no good reason to own a gun. A cop on the phone would have saved him and his family from harm. < /liberal interpretation off >

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The burglar decided to exercise his early retirement option.

[glock rocks]

freshly paroled, too.

he did not choose wisely.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The Central Precinct, where the first rash of burglaries took place in March and early April, saturated the area with canine units, undercover officers and even aviation surveillance, to no avail.

So they're admitting that an armed citizenry is much more effective than a saturation of law enforcement officials.

[FreePaul]

Convicted of aggravated burglary in 1997, Washington was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was released in February.

I think the I've discovered the problem here. Just think, if he had been serving his sentence he would be alive today. What a tragedy < /sarcasm >

[supercat]

So they're admitting that an armed citizenry is much more effective than a saturation of law enforcement officials.

If citizens are allowed to arm themselves, an increase in crime rates will cause more citizens to arm themselves, resulting in an increase in the likelihood of criminals getting nailed, which in turn will reduce crime rates.

If citizens are not allowed to arm themselves, an increase in crime rates will cause a larger percentage of crimes to gun unsolved, resulting in reduced deterrence, which in turn will increase crime rates further.

Which seems a better type of feedback system?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The parole system is a shame. This goof was sentenced to 20 years in 1997, then he walked in Feb. I'll bet his victims were real happy about that. Oh well, the homeowner in this story solved their problem and I don't feel the slightest bit bad for the criminal.

[LibKill]

1. 20 year sentence and gets out in 6. What is that about? He should have done the 20.

2. Goes right back to burglary.

3. Dies.

Slow learner.

[ml/nj]

ping

[Hinoki Cypress]

Good riddance, and rot in hell, scumbag. Another happy ending, courtesy of The Second Amendment.

Badda-bing, badda-boom!

[ibbryn]

The citizen who was forced to shoot him should sue the state for releasing someone who should have been in prison. The citizen should at least get the cost of his bullet and carpet cleaning back from the state.
I'm serious about sueing, though I know the state is probably immune.

[GailA]

TN offers 15-16 days per month 'good behavior' time. And UNLESS some one fights these paroles.....well the felons walk.

[A2J]

Homeowner shoots, kills man believed to be East Memphis 'cat burglar'

I hope the homeowner shot him nine times to make sure that he won't be coming back.

[henderson field]

"A cop on the phone would have saved him?" Well, that depends. Out where I live, there is a town of 2500 people, with 5 policemen. Now anyone who is reasonably adept with figures can see that, while the 5 police are protecting 5 citizens, there are 2,495 taxpayers who are entirely without protection. That means, in this particular town, the odds are 2495 to 5 that you will not be safe. Not very good odds I would say. Would you want your family to be without a means of self-defense in those circumstances?