Posted on 05/21/2010 2:14:19 PM PDT by smokingfrog
BRADENTON - The 74-year-old man who shot and killed a would-be robber Monday night was targeted by the suspect earlier in the day, according to detectives.
Manatee Sheriff's investigators say the suspect, Lee Andrew Johnson, spotted his elderly victim at a local ATM withdrawing money and followed him home. The violence that followed is still hard to believe for those who live in the neighborhood.
Neighbor Gwen Carnegie says Johnson was her lawn man of several years.
"When I got the phone call I said no, it can't be him, he cuts my yard and he doesn't even seem like that type of guy," Carnegie told FOX 13.
Investigators say Johnson broke into the home of 74-year-old Hosie Harris and demanded money around 11 p.m. Monday.
"[Johnson] was assaulting [Harris], hitting him over the head, and there was a confrontation and the bad guy picks up a gun that was laying by the victims bed," said Sheriff's spokesperson Dave Bristow.
The suspect, deputies say, grabbed the loaded .22 caliber rifle and tried to shoot Harris, but the gun's lock was on.
"He was not able to operate it so he put it back down and turned to do something else," said Bristow, "and the victim picks up the gun and shot the bad guy."
Johnson was shot dead and police say Harris made it to a neighbor's house for help.
Investigators say the 74-year-old suffered minor injuries during the scuffle but is expected to okay.
That brings a smile to Gwen Carnegie's face. She says Harris is well known in the neighborhood and liked by everyone.
"Everybody knows Mr. Hosie. Actually we always call him 'Tex' because he always wears a cowboy hat," said Carnegie. "Hopefully he'll be all right."
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxtampabay.com ...
I doubt it was actually a gun lock, I would bet that the safety was on and the criminal didn’t know how to ready to weapon to discharge.
The DEAD perp
“He was not able to operate it so he put it back down and turned to do something else,” said Bristow, “and the victim picks up the gun and shot the bad guy.”
Johnson was shot dead and police say Harris made it to a neighbor’s house for help.
____________________
“Charles Darwin, pick up the white courtesy phone...”
Colonel, USAFR
I agree. That does make more sense in the context of the description provided.
The old man might have said...I’ll show you how it works.
One less perp to take up jail space.
Sad but that’s how it is.
Beat me to it.
“but the criminal did not. Imagine THAT, boys and girls....”
His first shooting lesson was his last....;)
Don’t mess with a old man that can drop & kill you will one shot from a 22LR.
And don’t f*** with anyone nicknamed “Tex”, either;)
The lady was referring to the deceased, she didn’t know he was the criminal type.
Naw, couldn’t be. It had to be one of those government mandated trigger locks which the owner can remove in 1/000000051TH of a nano-second.
“So how soon before Hosie is drummed up by the DA on weapons charges?”
The short answer is, “The day after H*ll freezes over.
In Florida, one can shoot a criminal in your own home who is a threat to you, and the law is quite clear on that issue.
I’ve heard that a .22 is usually powerful enough to penetrate one side of the skull but not both. Just kind of goes in and bounces around a bit to scramble your brain. Don’t know if it’s true or not.
The sheriff's "spokesperson" needs to work on his grammar too:
"[Johnson] was assaulting [Harris], hitting him over the head, and there was a confrontation and the bad guy picks up a gun that was laying by the victims bed," said Sheriff's spokesperson Dave Bristow.
You’ll have to ask Jim Brady about that.
Grass, the gateway drug...
Wow, the ex-perp’s name is Lee. Who would have thunk it?
LOL....”Don’t mess with Tex!”
A .22 round is deadly.I recently disposed of one of the armadillos that have been rooting up my backyard with a 36 grain copper plated hollowpoint ,22 round from my trusty Marlin. I got him at about 20-25 yards and that bullet made mincemeat out of the 'dillo's chest area. He weighed in at 14 pounds...a friendly golden eagle usually scoops up the little ones!
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