Armed homeowner yells 'freeze' at intruder in his residence — but crook keeps moving toward him. Homeowner doesn't hesitate.



An armed Florida homeowner yelled "freeze" at an intruder in his residence last week — but police said the suspect kept moving toward him. With that, the homeowner opened fire.

The Lake Wales victim told police he woke up in his home on the 700 block of South Scenic Highway to the sound of his dog barking Tuesday night, WTVT-TV reported. It was just after 11:30 p.m., WFLA-TV reported. Lake Wales is about 90 minutes east of Tampa.

'This homeowner is a law-abiding citizen and had every right to protect his family. Cameron McGuire should be thankful today that he is alive and in jail.'

With that, the homeowner said he armed himself and saw the intruder — 34-year-old Cameron McGuire — inside the home and holding some of his child's belongings, the station said.

“He actually had my daughter’s book bag on,” John Coles told WFLA.

Police said the victim yelled "freeze," but the suspect kept walking toward him, WTVT reported.

“I didn’t really want to shoot the man, but he kind of came forward as I was standing down here with him at gunpoint,” Coles added to WFLA. “So I shot him, and I told him don’t move again, or it’s going to be again.”

Coles told WFLA he then held McGuire at gunpoint and called 911.

“He ... sat down until the police came and actually took him out the house,” Coles also noted to WFLA.

'Every right to protect his family'

Lake Wales Police Chief Chris Velasquez told WTVT the incident is an example of a law-abiding citizen exercising his legal rights.

"This homeowner is a law-abiding citizen and had every right to protect his family," Velasquez said, according to WTVT. "Cameron McGuire should be thankful today that he is alive and in jail. Hopefully, this was his wake-up call."

Investigators told WTVT McGuire got into the home by climbing through a kitchen window.

McGuire was transported to a local hospital before being booked into the Polk County Jail.

Image source: Polk County Sheriff's Office

McGuire has been charged with burglary of an occupied dwelling and theft, WTVT reported

Police told WTVT McGuire was released from state prison in February and has an extensive criminal record showing drug possession and domestic battery by strangulation.

Lake Wales police told WFLA homeowners should lock all their windows and doors to secure their homes.

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Intruder tries to force his way into home after dark, cops say. But homeowner has a gun — and sends suspect painful message.



An intruder tried to force his way into a Phoenix home Thursday night, police said — but the homeowner shot the suspect, sending him running off.

What are the details?

Police said the information they gathered indicates that an adult male "was attempting to force entry into a home when the homeowner shot the man," KSAZ-TV reported, citing a statement from Phoenix police.

Police said the incident went down just after 8 p.m. in the area of 5th Avenue and Lynwood Street, KPNX-TV reported.

Detectives said the suspect ran from the home and later was found in the area of 7th Avenue and Lynwood Street, KSAZ said, adding that the suspect suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Isaiah Roggenbuck, KTVK-TV reported.

The suspect was taken to a hospital, KSAZ said.

Police said Roggenbuck has since been released from the hospital and booked into the Maricopa County jail on one count of criminal trespassing, KTVK said.

The homeowner wasn’t hurt, KTVK reported, adding that an investigation is underway.

Homeowner shoots suspected home intruder: Phoenix PD youtu.be

How are folks reacting?

Commenters under KTVK's Facebook post about the incident were unanimous in their appreciation for the homeowner — and had no sympathy for the suspect:

  • "He’ll be a lot easier to catch from now on," one commenter quipped.
  • "Another win for the good guys," another commenter added.
  • "Great job homeowner," another commenter declared while adding an "always carry" image.
  • A user replying to the aforementioned comment noted, "I do. 357 mag Taurus 6 1/2 inch barrel and my trusty 9mm."
  • Another commenter opined about the suspect — with just a smidgen of sarcasm sprinkled in: "I'm sure he was a good person, and it's everyone else's fault but his own for getting shot."

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Homeowner shoots and kills alleged burglar trying to break into his home, California police say



A homeowner in California was on the phone with an emergency dispatcher when he shot and killed a man he believed to be a burglar trying to break into his home, according to police.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department said they were responding to a call of a home burglary at about 5 a.m. on Thursday when the dispatcher heard the gunshots.

When they arrived at the home in Vista, they found an injured suspect who was declared dead after being transported to a local hospital.

Police said the homeowner was the only person at the home at the time of the incident. He was uninjured.

“We’re talking to neighbors, looking for video surveillance,” said Lt. Joseph Jarjura with the homicide unit. “We’ll collect evidence, photographs, and we’ll try to determine what happened.”

The homeowner was not yet facing charges, but police said the investigation was ongoing.

Michael Schwartz, Executive Director of San Diego County Gun Owners PAC, told KFMB-TV that gun self defense is a complex legal issue in the state of California.

“Inside your home, there’s no requirement for you to have to retreat, and in California, in general, if someone has broken into your home, the law tends to be in favor of the homeowner," he explained.

However, the manner of break-in could make a difference toward possible charges.

“How did the person break in? What was the motivation for the person who broke in? Was the person fleeing?” Schwartz continued. “If someone has broken into your home, that’s definitely a big factor in proving that you reasonably believed that your life was in danger.”

Vista is a city of about 101,000 people about 42 miles north of San Diego.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

UPDATE: Burglary Suspect Shot By Homeowner In Vista

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