Homeowners open fire on burglars

Barrow County Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Lokeys Ridge Road home on Dec. 15 after the residents reported firing several shots at two individuals.

The residents, a father and son, were awakened just before midnight when their dog began barking. The father and son looked outside and noticed the lights on their four-wheeler had been turned on and that the four-wheeler had been cranked. The four-wheeler was parked in a carport next to a shed. The father noticed that a Honda Shadow inside the shed had also been cranked.

The father armed himself with a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber handgun while the son grabbed a Remington rifle. The pair also took their pet bulldog with them as they went to confront the suspects.

As the father and son approached the shed, two black males exited. One ran to the right and the other ran to the left. The father began pursuing the subject that ran left ordering him to stop. The man said he fired a warning shot into the air. At that point, the suspect turned and reached into his coat. Believing that the suspect was had a weapon, the father fired a second shot in the direction of the suspect's legs. The father said the suspect fled and did not appear to have been hit.

While the father was pursuing one suspect, the son chased the second suspect. The son yelled repeatedly for the suspect to stop and the suspect eventually did. The son warned the suspect that he had been caught and that deputies were enroute. When the son ordered the suspect to begin marching back towards the road, the suspect grabbed the barrel of the rifle. The son pulled the trigger, but the rifle failed to fire. The son and the suspect then began fighting. During the struggle, the suspect was reportedly bitten on the leg by the bulldog.

No arrests or charges have been made at this time.

Comments

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#1 Are you kidding? on 12/15/09 at 12:52 PM [Reply]

GET SOME!!! I bet they don't come back to that particular house in the future either! Right to Bear Arms: 1 Idiot Criminals: 0

#1.1 Anonymous on 12/16/09 at 05:02 AM [Reply]

I think its great. Wonder what proffesion the home owners are. I do agree they have the right to defend themselfs but if they were ordinary Joe blow citizen they probally would have been charged for reckless conduct. Wonders,

#1.2 Gearing up in Bethlehem on 12/16/09 at 10:06 AM [Reply]

I wish the article would give more details as to what area or neighborhood in Bethlehem this happened in. Bethlehem residents need to be informed!

#1.2.1 Joyce on 12/16/09 at 09:35 PM [Reply]

I live in Bethlehem, it would be nice if we knew what part of Bethlehem it was in. Does anyone know.

#2 Anonymous on 12/15/09 at 08:44 PM [Reply]

too bad the homeowner missed!

#3 unjustly accused in Madison County on 12/15/09 at 10:02 PM [Reply]

But the same thing happens to me in Madison County last week and i get arrested for reckless conduct. now tell me where the justice is?

#4 Ron on 12/16/09 at 07:27 AM [Reply]

they need to put lights on thier guns.

#5 ha ha on 12/16/09 at 09:47 AM [Reply]

This story made my day!

#6 Babs on 12/16/09 at 12:05 PM [Reply]

You have a right to defend yourself and your property. My husband and son have 28 guns in our house!! Big time hunters!
However, either of them would be crushed if they shot and killed someone over a 4 wheeler.
But I tell you a couple of well placed shots in the air would probably serve them right!

#7 1911A1 on 12/16/09 at 01:41 PM [Reply]

My definition of gun control: using both hands.

#8 Paula Gerat on 12/18/09 at 03:57 AM [Reply]

I'm not a follower of arming every citizen in the country and of giving a weapon to anyone that wants it. But I must admit that best defense is good offense. In this case homeowners managed to get rid of the burglar by themselves. By the way: how stupid was burglar to steal from full house?

#9 Penny on 12/18/09 at 05:00 AM [Reply]

Really wished that the homeowners didn't miss,my son's 4 wheeler was stolen in Winder a few years back,who knows could've been the same thieves....

#10 Anonymous on 12/18/09 at 09:00 PM [Reply]

Way to go! I am glad the homeowners protected their propety. I cannot stand a theif and I will help anyone in need but do not take my stuff or you may be facing a 40 caliber!

#11 bob on 12/21/09 at 03:38 AM [Reply]

in ohio you have to watch them take your stuff
and if your dog bites you get sued thats one of the reasons we moved here its a shame you have people that steal and put the family at risk its a shame they missed cause im sure somebody else will get robed an put in that
place do i shoot

#12 Hmmmmm on 12/23/09 at 10:16 AM [Reply]

O.C.G.A. § 16-3-21
Use of force in defense of self or others; evidence of belief that force was necessary in murder or manslaughter prosecution

(a) A person is justified in threatening or using force against another when and to the extent that he or she reasonably believes that such threat or force is necessary to defend himself or herself or a third person against such other's imminent use of unlawful force; however, except as provided in Code Section 16-3-23, a person is justified in using force which is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm only if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent death or great bodily injury to himself or herself or a third person or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

(b) A person is not justified in using force under the circumstances specified in subsection (a) of this Code section if he:

(1) Initially provokes the use of force against himself with the intent to use such force as an excuse to inflict bodily harm upon the assailant;

(2) Is attempting to commit, committing, or fleeing after the commission or attempted commission of a felony; or

(3) Was the aggressor or was engaged in a combat by agreement unless he withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to such other person his intent to do so and the other, notwithstanding, continues or threatens to continue the use of unlawful force.

(c) Any rule, regulation, or policy of any agency of the state or any ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, or policy of any county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state which is in conflict with this Code section shall be null, void, and of no force and effect.

(d) In a prosecution for murder or manslaughter, if a defendant raises as a defense a justification provided by subsection (a) of this Code section, the defendant, in order to establish the defendant's reasonable belief that the use of force or deadly force was immediately necessary, may be permitted to offer:

(1) Relevant evidence that the defendant had been the victim of acts of family violence or child abuse committed by the deceased, as such acts are described in Code Sections 19-13-1 and 19-15-1, respectively; and

(2) Relevant expert testimony regarding the condition of the mind of the defendant at the time of the offense, including those relevant facts and circumstances relating to the family violence or child abuse that are the bases of the expert's opinion.

______________________________________________

In summary, if the facts of the case are correct and the suspects were outside the residence...then yes...the residents acts were not justified or reasonable. Im not saying in any way, shape, or form that the suspects are in the right but we cant go taking peoples LIVES over property.

I could see if the two suspects made entry to the residence then the residents could reasonably feel that they were in danger but thats not the case. How stupid would they have felt if they actually killed someone over a car and a four wheeler? What could have been great would be if they called the police and they were actually able to catch the individuals and not let them get away.

#13 matt russell on 12/24/09 at 10:16 AM [Reply]

my 4 wheeler was stolen 5 years ago in bethlehem before new years day.the cop said call if anything suspicios went on.i would do the same thing if someone comes on my property because if there brave enough to take something on the outside then they will probably come in the house too.when we start making examples of these thiefs and go back to hanging them in the streets and put them in front of a firing squad some of this foolishness will stop.

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