Legally blind man defending his home shoots suspected burglar
By KCBD Staff | June 11, 2020 at 5:21 AM CDT – Updated June 12 at 9:03 AM
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – One person was shot after what the victim believed was an attempted break-in Wednesday night in Central Lubbock.
Police were called to the 3200 block of 35th Street around 11 p.m. The homeowner, 63-year-old Jimmy James, said he heard someone trying to kick in his door. The homeowner shot through the door and injured one person.
Police responded to a home invasion call on June 10 near the 3200 block of 35th Street.
James said he’s lived in Lubbock his whole life and since moving to the duplex in September 2019, last night’s invasion wasn’t the first time someone has tired to gain entry to his home.
“I’ve had two so far,” said James. “One of them (happened) the second day after I got here. Somebody tried to get in. A couple of days later somebody came in and tried to get in with a key. Then when they found out someone was here they said they had the wrong apartment.”
James is in hospice care and is legally blind. He said someone started kicking down his door last night.
“And then, all of the sudden, BLAM and I said, ‘what the hell?’ And I ran and grabbed my gun and then just WHAM they hit it again. And the door flew open and I started shooting,” said James.
James told police that if he did not grab his gun there is no telling what the intruder could have done. The report says James did not see who kicked in his door, but due to his medical disability, he was in fear of his life.
When police arrived, James said they told him, “that I did the right thing. Because I know if I hadn’t of, they meant business. If you look at that door, they meant business. If I hadn’t have shot them, I’d be dead.”
Captain Ray Mendoza with Lubbock Police Department said the castle doctrine allows residents in Texas to defend their property, especially when you are in fear for your life.
“In this case, it very well seems that that was the case. Somebody’s kicking down your door after 11 o’clock at night. You’re home alone, you feel that you need to defend yourself then in this case, it seems like it might have been a justified shooting,” said Mendoza.
James said he’s never experienced anything like this before in his life.
“I never thought this would happen to me. Always happen to somebody else,” said James. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”
James said he spoke to his landlord who is relocating James for his own safety.
Lubbock Police released more information Thursday about what happened.