Burglar Shot and Killed, Neighbors Defend Action
POSTED: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 - 1:47pm
UPDATED: Monday, September 6, 2010 - 7:55pm
EL PASO, TX - Police say a man broke into a Northeast El Paso home around five this morning. Neighbors say there was a family of four, including two young children inside. Were told the man went through the fridge before being found hiding in a closet. That man ended up shot and killed.
"I'm glad he nailed his ass," Joy Casper told News Channel 9.
Casper lives in the neighborhood. She says it's normally quiet and wonderful, and she's standing up for the family.
"When these people break in they don't send you an announcement saying I'm going to visit you for coffee at four o'clock in the morning, you don't know what they're going to do to you," Casper said
The family caught the man and called 911, but while police were on their way one of them shot the man, and he later died. Neighbors say the homeowner was defending his family because the man hit him with a chair.
"The way it played out it sends a very clear message. Do not mess with this neighborhood. Do not mess with us up here," Van English said.
English is the Vice-President of the neighborhood association. He said his community is very isolated, and very protective.
"The quick protective action that this homeowner took, to protect the family and the home, is evidence of that."
Police haven't released the names of anyone involved, and they also say this is a very quiet neighborhood, one with little to no crime perhaps because of neighbors.
"We've never had an issue, neighbors are always looking out for each other, and we've always left doors open, always felt that the neighborhood's very secure," Maria Orona said.
"We have neighborhood watches, on different sections of the street and so on, and we look out for each other, of course if things happen in the middle of the night most of us are asleep," Klaus Hille said.
When we asked neighbors if this changed the way they felt about their safety they said no. They said they too would have fought back to protect themselves.
"I don't have a weapon, and I could tell you it would be a hard road for anyone who tried to get in my house, English said.
Stick with KTSM.com for the latest updates, and be sure to watch News Channel 9 at 5 and 6 for all the details.
