Category: Slugs For Thugs

Sure sounds like the prosecutor really wanted to charge and prosecute, but realized he didn’t have a case

Homeowner who shot alleged burglar in self defense won’t face charges

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Hennepin County Attorney is declining to file charges against the homeowner accused of shooting an intruder last month in Minneapolis who claimed she acted in self-defense.

Thirty-year-old Martin Lee Johnson was shot and killed outside a home along the 3300 block of 25th Avenue South on February 22.

According to police, Johnson was shot after apparently trying to break into a home that night. The county attorney says Ring camera video shows Johnson jumping six-foot privacy fence that surrounds the backyard of the home and trying to enter through a patio door.

Prosecutors say the video shows that, after failing to get in the patio door, Johnson then went into a detached garage through a door in the backyard.

Is it self-defense to shoot an intruder who has entered your detached garage? The Hennepin County Attorney’s office said Monday it is “deferring” a charging decision in the Feb. 22 shooting that left a man dead.

By this point, prosecutors say the homeowner had spotted Johnson on the Ring camera. Arming herself with a pistol, the homeowner went to make sure Johnson had left and had not tried to enter her home. Police say she also told her son to grab a rifle from downstairs in case the man tried to get inside. According to prosecutors, the homeowner has a legal permit to carry.

After realizing the man was still in the garage, the homeowner told police she fired warning shots with the pistol and warned the man to leave. But the homeowner says the man continue walking towards the homeowner and her son.

Ultimately, police say the man was shot once in the chest and later died from those injuries. The homeowner told police the man appeared to reach into his waistband when she shot him with the rifle.

Prosecutors say, after the shooting, the homeowner gave voluntary interviews with officers and allowed investigators to access the Ring camera footage.

As for the evidence, prosecutors say the medical examiner was unable to determine, with 100 percent certainty, which gun fired the fatal bullet. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman says they don’t have evidence to disapprove a self-defense argument.

“While this case is tragic, there is not sufficient proof that the homeowner and/or her son are guilty of a crime,” a news release from the county attorney reads. “Based on the evidence provided to our office, it appears the woman and her son would have valid self-defense claims.”

Pennsylvania man returns home to find armed burglar, shootout erupts

COATESVILLE, Pa. – Authorities say a Pennsylvania man had a brief shootout with a burglar who stole two guns and a video game console from the victim’s apartment Friday morning.

Officers from the City of Coatesville Police Department were called to a property on East Lincoln Highway for reports of a shooting.

According to investigators, the victim returned home to find a man armed with an AR-15 standing in his doorway.

After a brief struggle, police say the suspect fired at least 7 shots and the victim returned fire with his legally-owned firearm.

No one was struck during the brief shootout, according to police.

The AR-15 used in the shooting was stolen from the victim’s home along with another gun and a Playstation 5, police said.

Authorities did not provide a description of the suspect.

Teen killed in self-defense in double shooting in Lithonia

LITHONIA, Ga. — DeKalb police said that an 18-year-old was killed in self-defense in a shooting that also left a 25-year-old man in critical condition Monday night.

Officers were called to the 6300 block of Stablewood Way in Lithonia around 6:30 p.m. in reference to a shooting.

Police found a man with at least one gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

A short time later, officers found a second man who had been shot multiple times. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Police later said that the two victims got into an argument, which led to the 18-year-old opening fire. A third man fatally shot the 18-year-old.

Police said that the third man will not face any charges at this time because he shot in self-defense. Police did not say if the 25-year-old victim would face any charges.

Police have not released the identities of the three people involved.

Fontana Homeowner Fatally Shoots Attempted Burglar
Police are investigating a Saturday night fatal shooting in Fontana, after a home owner says he had to defend himself during an attempted burglary.

Police are investigating a Saturday night fatal shooting in Fontana [California] , after a home owner says he had to defend himself during an attempted burglary.

The homeowner, whose name has not been released by authorities, called the Fontana Police Department at 10:47 p.m. Saturday.

He told police multiple people were attempting to break into his house at the corner of Cypress Avenue and Baseline, that he believed at least one of them was inside, and that he believed they were armed. The home owner then armed himself with a handgun before the call with Fontana PD disconnected.

When police arrived at the scene, the home owner came out of the house and surrendered himself, saying he had shot someone inside the home.

When police went inside, they found a man dead in the hallway. The dead man was wearing gloves and a COVID-19 mask, and looked to be between 20 and 30 years old, according to the police.

The dead man also had a semi-automatic handgun next to his hand, and according to police, there were signs of a shootout in the home. Brass casings from two different weapons were found.

The other individuals the home owner said tried to break in ran away. Police are searching for those individuals.

Neighbors in the Fontana community are on high alert after the incident occurred.

“If they came here, what exactly would have happened?” said Michelle Luna, a neighbor.

Police are conducting a thorough investigation, but believe the man found dead inside the house was attempting to burglarize the home, and the home owner defended himself against an armed subject. If the investigation finds that to be the case, the home owner will not face charges.

The home owner was not injured in the incident.

Homeowner shoots, kills intruder who broke into his home as he slept

HOUSTON — A man was shot and killed by a homeowner after police say he broke into the man’s home, according to the Houston Police Department.

The incident happened around 1 a.m. Thursday in the 2200 block of Naomi Street in southwest Houston.

Police say the homeowner was asleep on the second floor of his house when he heard the glass break

The intruder entered the home and then made his way up the stairs, when the intruder saw him and discharged his weapon. According to HPD, the homeowner shot the intruder in the neck.

After being shot, police say the intruder ran out the same way he came in, then knocked on nearby doors letting neighbors know he was shot.

HPD says the man later collapsed a few houses away and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Other neighbors say they witnessed the intruder knocking on other houses in the area before the shooting happened.

“I have a newborn son,” Jalen Ross told KHOU 11 News. “That’s all I thought about…him, his mother. I didn’t have a weapon in the household. I was at a disadvantage.”

Ross says he saw the intruder through his door peephole. When he didn’t open the door, the intruder keyed his car before breaking in to the home next door.

Police did not say if the intruder was armed during the break-in.

The homeowner, who has not been identified, is fully cooperating with investigators according to HPD, and is not expected to face any charges.

Minneapolis homeowner claims self-defense in deadly shooting of possible burglar

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A 53-year-old woman and Minneapolis homeowner is claiming self-defense, and protection of property in a deadly shooting in her yard last week. Court documents reveal on Feb. 22 a man died after he was shot in the 3300 block of 25th Avenue South in Minneapolis’ Corcoran neighborhood. The homeowner who pulled the trigger claims, she fired several warning shots. But the man advanced towards her.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has identified the man killed as Martin Lee Johnson, 30 of Minneapolis. A search warrant reports Johnson broke into the woman’s detached garage about 8:30 p.m. FOX 9 is not publicly naming the homeowner.

She told detectives she first fired four warning shots into the air with a handgun, but when he advanced and appeared to reach into his waistband, she eventually shot him with a rifle.

“She is just a loving person. It’s unfortunate that had to happen,” Katherine Wiley, a neighbor, told FOX 9.

Wiley is a long-time friend of the homeowner, and runs a daycare in the MPD first precinct neighborhood that sits right on the backside of the Hiawatha light rail tracks.

“Police can’t do it all themselves. That’s why we look out for each other. Our eyes and ears is for the community. That’s what it’s about nowadays,” Wiley explained.

According to the search warrant, investigators located both weapons, the handgun and rifle, in plain sight inside the home. They also requested access to the woman’s cell phones, as well as, Ring doorbell and home surveillance video recordings. The house appears to have several cameras and spotlights in the back of the home and garage where the shooting is said to have taken place.

“You have to do what we all have to do to protect ourselves and protect out home. If someone tries to come up and invade your space. You know, you have to call police. You have a weapon and ask someone to leave, you are going to do whatever,” said Wiley.

The search warrant says the homeowner did call 911, but did not indicate whether Johnson was armed. The ultimate decision is now in the hands of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office to determine whether charges are warranted, or whether this was a justified use of deadly force.

Homeowner shot armed intruder in Denham Springs

DENHAM SPRINGS – A homeowner shot an armed suspect who entered their residence early Monday morning, according to sheriff’s deputies.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office reported the shooting happened around 6 a.m. on Hammack Road near LA 16. The department said the property owner shot the suspect, who was also armed with a weapon, after that person entered the home.

The intruder and the homeowner knew one another, according to the sheriff’s office.

The suspect was taken to a hospital. The homeowner was uninjured.

No other details related to the shooting were immediately available.

Homeowner shoots, kills armed intruder in Northland

A man was shot and killed Sunday morning after breaking into a residence in the Northland, Kansas City police said. Officers with the Kansas City Police Department were dispatched to a disturbance in the 3800 block of Northwest Barry Road around 9:30 a.m. Sunday. While arriving, they were told there was a shooting nearby in the 3800 block of Northwest 85th Terrace.

At the scene of the shooting, officers made contact with the resident of the home, who said an armed intruder had broken in, said Capt. Leslie Foreman, a spokeswoman for the department.

The resident of the apartment complex said he shot the intruder, who police said was declared dead at the scene. Foreman said police do not know at this point whether the intruder and the resident had any relation or knew one another. She said they’re also working to figure out whether the initial disturbance call and the shooting were connected.

Police said the resident of the home is cooperating with detectives. They do not believe any other suspects are involved. Detectives and investigators were on the scene canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence through at least late Sunday morning.

Sunday’s killing marks the 24th homicide reported this year in Kansas City, according to data kept by The Star, which includes police shootings. Last year saw 157 killings, one of the highest numbers recorded in the city’s history after 2020, which saw the most homicides ever for Kansas City.

Are Ukraine’s armed citizens making a difference?

One of the go-to arguments of gun control advocates who try to portray our Second Amendment as an outdated anachronism is that armed citizens just wouldn’t stand a chance against the might of a modern military force bristling with tanks, missiles, and even nuclear weapons (looking at you, Eric Swalwell).

The armed citizens of Ukraine, however, are helping to put that argument to rest. So far the nation has defied expectations and has continued to to resist the Russian invasion, repelling many of the attacks against the country’s biggest cities, and the country’s Territorial Defense Force, which includes many individuals who were simply private citizens a couple of weeks ago, is having an impact, according to Ukrainian officials.

“In the city itself, the territorial defense detachments are working quite effectively,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential chief of staff, said in a statement Saturday morning. “It turned out that people are coming out, defending their homes. It wasn’t expected by analysts of the Russian General Staff.”

I don’t think it was expected even for some of those who’ve shown up to volunteer, many of whom may never have thought about defending their country with a gun until last week but who are now heading down to their nearest recruitment center.

Men from their 20s to late 50s, from a range of backgrounds, showed up. Igor, 37, an economist for an online retailing company, who didn’t want his last name published for safety reasons, stood in line for his gun. He spoke at barely a whisper and his lips trembled. The dull thud of bombs or artillery could be heard in the distance.

“I never served in the army or with the police or anything,” he said. He said he hoped to be able to figure it out. He was worried, he said. “But people who are really afraid are sitting at home. They aren’t out here now.”

“Everybody in our country needs to defend — women, girls, everybody,” said Denis Matash, 33, the manager of Milk, a Kyiv nightclub, standing in line with about 50 other men at the recruitment center. “I don’t think they understand where they came,” he said of the Russians. “Look at what is happening here.”

Grigory Mamchur, 40, who works as a male strip dancer at the Milk nightclub, part of the now shuttered but once booming nightlife scene in Kyiv, was also in line for a Kalashnikov.

“There wasn’t even anything to think about,” Mr. Mamchur said. “We will defend the country however we can. This could be our last chance.”

The Territorial Defense Force and the private citizens who are taking up arms against their country’s invaders can’t thwart the Russian military on their own, but they can and have made life hell for Russian troops. In addition, the massive mobilization of civilian volunteers serves as a psychological boost for Ukrainians and is helping to obliterate the argument made by Vladimir Putin that the Ukrainian campaign is about “liberating” a grateful populace from their democratically-elected overlords.

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They Held the Line: Ukrainians in Kyiv Hold Out Against Hellacious Russian Assault

I will say this about the Ukrainians. They’re holding out. They’re putting up a tenacious fight against their Russian invaders. It was something Moscow was not expecting. Vladimir Putin has the better military, but they’re struggling in achieving their objectives. Kyiv was projected to be surrounded by Russian forces by this time. At one point this week, they were only a mere 20 miles from the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv which was already being bombed.

Last night, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was clear that last night was a fight for the nation. they needed to keep Kyiv, but it was going to be difficult as the full might of Russia’s war machine was going to be unleashed upon the city. The nation has been virtually mustered. Citizens can carry firearms in public for the national defense. All males 18-60 cannot leave. Martial law has been declared. The people are ready to fight with whatever means available. Ukrainian soldiers were teaching civilians how to make Molotov cocktails prior to the Russian assault. Russian troops reached the outskirts of the city yesterday evening and fighting did break out in the streets reportedly.

The Ukrainians held the line. The city remains in their hands. Zelensky had rebuffed an American offer of an evacuation—he was in the city during the assault—adding that he needed ammunition, not a ride (via NBC News):

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Man with Lee County ties reportedly killed, was wanted in shooting of Taylor County deputy

A man with connections to Lehigh Acres who was wanted in connection with the shooting of a Taylor County Sheriff’s Office deputy Tuesday night is reported dead.

Gregory Mediema, 33, has listed an Arbordale Street address in Lehigh Acres as a residence. The alert said Miedema was last seen near U.S. 19 South Deer Run Road in Perry, between Tallahassee and Gainesville.

Tallahasee television station WCTV Wednesday reported that the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office says a suspect was killed during a home invasion in Steinhatchee in southern Taylor County.

That suspect’s body was found near the same car that was listed in a part Florida Blue Alert issued late Tuesday night.

The Taylor Sheriff’s Office identified the deputy who was shot as Troy Andersen with the agency’s K-9 unit. The Sheriff’s Office said Andersen was stable at Shands Hospital in Gainesville.

The Florida Blue Alert on Miedema was issued shortly before midnight seeking information on his whereabouts. Blue alerts are issued through the state’s Emergency Alert System to phones, television, radio and message boards across the highway when a law enforcement officer is killed, seriously injured or missing in the line of duty and there’s still an imminent threat to the public.

The alert was cancelled Wednesday morning.

A Facebook post from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday said Miedema had been killed but included no other information.

Suspect shot, another arrested after break-in at Deep Ellum business

DALLAS — One suspect was shot and another was arrested after a reported break-in at a business in the Deep Ellum area early Monday, according to the Dallas Police Department.

Based on preliminary information, officers responded to a shooting in the 3000 block of Canton Street, near South Malcolm X Boulevard.

A business owner was asleep inside his own business, according to an officer on the scene.

The officer said two men kicked in the door and went inside, and the business owner shot one of the men. That man was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

The other man who broke into the business was not injured and was arrested, according to police at the scene. Police said the case would be referred to a grand jury to determine if it was self-defense.

Police were still investigating the shooting Monday morning, and more information was not available.

Man Shot By Homeowner After Alleged Break-In

OKLAHOMA CITY – A man was shot while allegedly trying to break into a home early Saturday morning. It happened in a southwest OKC neighborhood, as officers say the suspect was taken to a hospital.
Police said the man was inside his home when he heard what sounded like someone trying to break in. He quickly grabbed his gun and when he saw the intruder, he aimed and fired.

Officers arrived on the scene just before 6 a.m. at a home near SW 15th and Westwood. When they got there, they found the suspect who had been shot.

“It was a non-life-threatening injury as far as we know at this time,” said Rob Robertson, with OKC Police. “I don’t know that any arrests have been made at this time.”

The suspect was taken to a local hospital and neither the homeowner nor anyone else in the area was injured. Police are now continuing to investigate the scene.

“The most important thing is conducting interviews,” said Robertson. “Collecting evidence, collecting the weapon, that sort of thing. “If there’s any video surveillance or anything like that yeah know a lot of people have video surveillance now.”

It’s uncertain how the suspect got inside the home and what he planned to take. Robertson says you never know how incidents like this could turn out and it’s fortunate no one was critically injured.

“We don’t want anybody hurt, it’s always unfortunate and what a lot of people discount or disregard is what the victim is going through as well,” Robertson said. “That’s every little bit as traumatic for them as maybe the suspect who got hit.”

Redwood City store owner fires on would-be robbers, scaring trio away

REDWOOD CITY – Authorities were searching for three men who allegedly tried to rob a jewelry store in unincorporated Redwood City before someone at the store fired a shot from a gun, scaring the trio away.
At 5:50 p.m. Monday, deputies were called to Plaza Jewelers at 3303 Middlefield Road for a report of an armed robbery, said Sgt. Jesse Gurkovic of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies learned that three men had entered the business, displayed firearms and demanded merchandise, Gurkovic said.
A store owner pulled out a firearm and shot one round, causing the three men to take off running, according to Detective Javier Acosta. No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.
The investigation was ongoing and police were working on identifying the suspects.
Rosalba Farias, owner of the store, said her husband retrieved a gun and fired one round, hitting the front door of the store. Two of the men had guns and the other was holding a piece of metal, she said.
“I was in the back counter helping a customer when I heard the noise and I just froze,” she said.

Suspect reportedly shot by employee during jewelry store theft in Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – A robber was shot by an employee during a jewelry store heist in Colorado Springs Wednesday evening.

The wounded suspect was dropped off at a nearby hospital, but police believe others involved could remain on the run.

People at neighboring businesses around East Fillmore and Institute started hearing a commotion shortly after 5:30 p.m.

“I heard 10 to 12 gunshots. You know, coming from outside, behind me, I couldn’t really tell where they were coming from.”

Alan Lynch, CEO of Westpeak Mobility at 903 E. Fillmore St., told 11 News he heard the gunfire, then —

“I saw a black pick up truck making the turn from Fillmore onto Arcadia really quick, with a white pick up chasing him. I don’t know what happened. The black truck was definitely moving, probably doing close to 80 or 90 down Arcadia right past my office.”

Lynch didn’t know where the ruckus had started, but he called police and reported what he witnessed.

“They said they had already spoken to at least a couple other people.”

Officers discovered Legacy & Co. Jewelers at 1111 E. Fillmore St. had been robbed. At the time of this writing, they have released few details, including what was taken and whether the suspect and employee had exchanged gunfire. The suspect is expected to survive.

“I feel most bad for the small business owner of the jewelry store. As a small business owner, I just have a tremendous amount of respect for people that are out there trying to make it on their own and do a good job because they were passionate about their business, and it hurts me most to think about a small business owner going through something like this … I wish them and their families just the best,” Lynch said.

Man shoots would-be robber in North Memphis, family says

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Neighbors say an attempted robbery led to a shootout that sent two people to the hospital in a North Memphis neighborhood.

Memphis police are saying very little about the double shooting Wednesday afternoon at the corner of Stovall Avenue and Hyde Park Street.

A woman at the house on Stovall told WREG her nephew was shot by a would-be robber while sitting in his van in the driveway of his mother’s home.

“The guy got in the car and pulled the gun on him, and he jumped out of the car,” said the woman who did not want to be identified. “He was running from them. He was shooting at him. That’s how all this got shot up.”

The aunt showed us the bullet holes on the front of her sister’s house. She said her nephew was shot in the leg but was able to fire back, hitting and stopping the robber.

“My cousin up the street they heard the shooting, and she ran down here,” she said. “She was holding my nephew when I got here.”

Police said two people were transferred to the hospital, one in critical condition. The aunt said her nephew had to undergo surgery on his leg but is expected to be okay.

“It’s bad because he’s going to be out of work for a while,” she said. “He’s got a family to take care of.”

Police have not released any suspect information, but witnesses said another person with the shooter left in a dark gray Ford Fusion.

Man accused of breaking into neighbor’s home; deputies say resident fired shot at intruder

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WCHS) Kanawha County deputies said a man has been charged after he broke into the home of a neighbor, and the resident fired a shot at the alleged intruder.

Larry A. Sheets, 54, has been charged after an incident that was reported Thursday on Strawberry Road in St. Albans, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kanawha County Magistrate Court.

Deputies said the man reported he awakened after hearing a loud noise and saw his neighbor, Sheets, inside his home. The resident had a pistol, and he said Sheets told him to shoot him.

Sgt. Ana Pile, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said the resident fired one shot and missed.

According to the complaint, the resident said the front door of his home had been bashed in, and a sledgehammer was found near the door on the outside that didn’t belong to him.

Sheets has been charged with burglary and was being held on a $5,000 surety/cash bond at the South Central Regional Jail

Man killed in self-defense shooting in Pelham

SHELBY Co., Ala. (WBRC) – A man died following a stabbing and then a shooting in Shelby County in the Windstone community early Tuesday morning.

Pelham Police said they responded to a stabbing and a shooting at two locations around 12:30 a.m. on February 15, 2022.

The two incidents happened at 321 Honeysuckle Lane and 236 Camellia Drive in Pelham.

Pelham Police Chief Pat Cheatwood said a 29-year-old man stabbed someone on Camellia Drive in Pelham and then, in an excited state, officers said he started going door to door ringing doorbells and banging on doors.

Chief Cheatwood said the man, who was naked, made it to the home on Honeysuckle Lane. Investigators said the suspect banged on the door, the homeowner opened the door and a struggle started when the suspect attempted to enter the home. Cheatwood said that’s when the 29-year-old man was shot and killed.

Shelby Co. Coroner said the person killed in the Pelham shooting has been identified as Carlton James Brown of Pelham, AL.

The chief confirmed an off-duty officer lived in the home on Honeysuckle, but no confirmation on how he was involved.

The chief said the shooting appears to be self-defense.

The suspect lived in the home on Camellia. Officers said the person who was stabbed will be okay.

Chief Cheatwood said officers do not have a motive for how this all started. They are working to find out what happened.

‘It’s locked and loaded’: Mother, Iraq veteran pulls gun on man trying to get into car

NEW ORLEANS — A mother and veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan said she had to do something she never dreamed of.
While stuck in traffic on Interstate 10 in New Orleans, she said someone tried to get in her car. So, her training kicked in and she pulled out a gun.

Charise Taylor said the incident happened while her 2-year-old son was in the car.

“You shouldn’t have to navigate your own city like a war zone. It’s un-American,” Taylor said. “The crime is out of control and it’s terrifying. At this point, having to use the same tactics in an American city that you use in Iraq and Afghanistan simply to navigate through the city it’s scary and I’m not the only mom feeling this way.”

Taylor said she was headed to pick up her husband on Friday.
She was stuck in gridlock traffic, she said a group in a truck motioned to her to get over. So, she let them. Next thing she knows a man comes up to her passenger door.

“So, as he comes up he’s close and he’s pretty aggressive trying to get the car door open makes eye contact with me he’s still trying to get it open a couple times,” Taylor said.

Taylor said she picked up her gun. “It’s locked and loaded,” she recalled saying. Taylor said she didn’t fire but was ready to. She said the man eventually ran off. Taylor said what also has her on edge is police classified the crime as a disturbance.

NOPD issued the following statement:

“The NOPD is actively investigating a disturbance that occurred on Interstate 10 West at the Canal Street exit on February 11, 2022 at about 5:20 p.m. The incident classification is based on the available information regarding the incident at the time the report was written. We do not have any additional information to provide this time.”

“The emotions honestly your body takes in a different form I stayed in my body of course but everything transformed I’m trained to do this I’ve gone to classes I’m prior military if I have to pull this trigger that’s what I have to do,” Taylor said.

Intruder shot and killed after breaking into West Palm Beach [Florida] home
The attempted burglary happened early Saturday morning

West Palm Beach police say an intruder was shot and killed after breaking into a home while a couple was sleeping.

The incident happened around 4 a.m. in the 500 block of Avon Road. Police say a man broke into the home through a window while the couple was inside asleep. When the intruder turned on the bedroom light, it awakened the couple and a verbal confrontation ensued.

Officials say the homeowner shot the intruder, who was then transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The couple was not injured.