Miami-Dade Man Turns Tables On Intruder, Shoots Him
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A northwest Miami-Dade man turned the tables on someone who tried to break into his home early Tuesday morning.
The man, his wife and their two sons, ages 5 and 9, were inside their home at 14240 NW 2nd Avenue when the intruder drove up in his red car and tried to force his way inside.
Sources say the intruder was banging on the door and trying to force his way in while the homeowner said he was calling 911.
When the intruder wouldn't stop, the homeowner fired two shots through the door.
Crews took the intruder to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center where, at last check, he was in stable condition. Authorities have only said he is 22-years-old.
Miami-Dade Police Det. Alvaro Zabaleta told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that it is not known yet if the shooting was justified.
CBS4's Carey Codd spoke to Miami Dade police investigators early Tuesday evening.
They said the person who was shot remains in intensive care after surgery and is unable to speak with detectives.
Detectives said at this point they have only spoken with the homeowner, and until they speak with the person who was shot, they only have one side of this story.
The man and his family were not hurt but they are shaken.
Their family attorney, Michael Grieco, said the homeowner was protecting his family.
"If the allegation is that these folks fired in protection of their family, I am confident that there is not going to be any issues, that there's not going to be any charges," said Grieco.
Grieco said the homeowner did not know the burglar.
The man's next door neighbors said this was not the first time something has happened there.
The first time, someone threw a rock into a window on the home.
The second time, someone tried to break into the house through the back door.
The family attorney said both husband and wife have licenses to carry a firearm. He explained why the family involved him.
"If a gun gets fired, it is not a dumb thing to have a lawyer involved," he said. "I am here to protect their interests and their rights and also to act as a conduit between them and law enforcement."
Neighbors say break-ins are not uncommon in the neighborhood. Other neighbors have been victimized themselves.
"I've had two occasions of people trying to break into my home. Fortunately, no violence was necessary," said neighbor Kyle Melkonian. "In this case, I don't like to second guess anybody in a situation like that. It's the middle of the night, in the morning. You don't know if it's one or three."
"I'm glad... I would have done the same thing," said neighbor George Mystery.
Mystery said someone broke into his house earlier this year and threatened his wife with a hammer.
"Imagine someone standing over you with a hammer," he said. "She has not been able to return to work. I am glad to see that somebody did something this time because it's terrible out here right now."
This is the second time in as many days that a homeowner has stopped someone during a would-be burglary.
On Monday, a Sunrise man shot one of three people who had broken into his home at 4380 NW 103rd Terrace.
The injured man was taken to Broward Health Medical Center where he died.
The two others with him took off during the shooting and were taken into custody a short time later.
Police said the Sunrise homeowner will not face charges and the two other suspected burglars will each be charged with felony murder.
