(CA) Business owner shoots intruder 08-20-03
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Business owner fatally shoots intruder
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Wednesday, August
20, 2003.
By NICOLE JACOB
Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - An intruder at a Lancaster business became the Valley's 26th
homicide victim this year.
The intruder's life came to a violent end early Tuesday morning when a
Lancaster business owner shot and killed him after the intruder
allegedly broke into the owner's comic book shop and was about to attack
the owner.
The intruder, whose identity has not been released, allegedly forced
open a back door of the Bases Cards and Comics about 3 a.m., only to
find the shop owner sleeping in the back room.
The owner told investigators he was sleeping in a back room because of
other recent burglaries at the business, sheriff's Sgt. Shaun McCarthy
said.
"He heard the door being pried open so he went into the showroom and saw
the (intruder)," McCarthy said. "He said the (intruder) attempted to
strike him with the tool that he was holding, which was a tire iron."
Sheriff's officials did not release the shop owner's identity, but a
search of past Valley Press articles and sources indicate the store
owner is Rob Stephens.
Stephens, armed with a handgun, fired at the intruder, striking him once
in the upper body, sheriff's officials said. The intruder was dead at
the scene.
Stephens was questioned, but not arrested. Homicide detectives believe
the case is justifiable homicide, but the Los Angeles County District
Attorney's Office will make a final decision.
"Based on where our investigation is at this point, it's as clear cut a
case of justifiable homicide as I've ever handled," McCarthy said.
"Everything appears to be consistent with what we're being told."
The shop was open for business Tuesday afternoon, but Stephens could not
be reached for comment.
The incident is the latest in a string of seven killings that have
occurred in the Valley since the end of July. Two have involved Valley
business owners who were killed at their businesses.
On July 27, antique shop owner Victoria Gnerlich was found beaten to
death in her Littlerock shop. Detectives said robbery may have been a
motive in that killing.
On Aug. 11, William Budfuloski was found dead in the parking lot outside
of his Lancaster business, Budco Fabrications. Budfuloski had been shot
several times.
Others who have been killed in the recent wave of violence include
sheriff's Deputy Stephen Sorensen, who was shot to death Aug. 2 while
investigating a trespassing call in Llano; James Madden and Richard
House, who were killed in a car-to-car shooting in Lancaster on Aug. 6;
and Donald Kueck, suspected killer of Sorensen, who was killed Aug. 8 in
a fiery shoot-out with law enforcement officials in Lake Los Angeles.
??http://www.avpress.com/n/westy2.hts
??
Business owner fatally shoots intruder
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Wednesday, August
20, 2003.
By NICOLE JACOB
Valley Press Staff Writer
LANCASTER - An intruder at a Lancaster business became the Valley's 26th
homicide victim this year.
The intruder's life came to a violent end early Tuesday morning when a
Lancaster business owner shot and killed him after the intruder
allegedly broke into the owner's comic book shop and was about to attack
the owner.
The intruder, whose identity has not been released, allegedly forced
open a back door of the Bases Cards and Comics about 3 a.m., only to
find the shop owner sleeping in the back room.
The owner told investigators he was sleeping in a back room because of
other recent burglaries at the business, sheriff's Sgt. Shaun McCarthy
said.
"He heard the door being pried open so he went into the showroom and saw
the (intruder)," McCarthy said. "He said the (intruder) attempted to
strike him with the tool that he was holding, which was a tire iron."
Sheriff's officials did not release the shop owner's identity, but a
search of past Valley Press articles and sources indicate the store
owner is Rob Stephens.
Stephens, armed with a handgun, fired at the intruder, striking him once
in the upper body, sheriff's officials said. The intruder was dead at
the scene.
Stephens was questioned, but not arrested. Homicide detectives believe
the case is justifiable homicide, but the Los Angeles County District
Attorney's Office will make a final decision.
"Based on where our investigation is at this point, it's as clear cut a
case of justifiable homicide as I've ever handled," McCarthy said.
"Everything appears to be consistent with what we're being told."
The shop was open for business Tuesday afternoon, but Stephens could not
be reached for comment.
The incident is the latest in a string of seven killings that have
occurred in the Valley since the end of July. Two have involved Valley
business owners who were killed at their businesses.
On July 27, antique shop owner Victoria Gnerlich was found beaten to
death in her Littlerock shop. Detectives said robbery may have been a
motive in that killing.
On Aug. 11, William Budfuloski was found dead in the parking lot outside
of his Lancaster business, Budco Fabrications. Budfuloski had been shot
several times.
Others who have been killed in the recent wave of violence include
sheriff's Deputy Stephen Sorensen, who was shot to death Aug. 2 while
investigating a trespassing call in Llano; James Madden and Richard
House, who were killed in a car-to-car shooting in Lancaster on Aug. 6;
and Donald Kueck, suspected killer of Sorensen, who was killed Aug. 8 in
a fiery shoot-out with law enforcement officials in Lake Los Angeles.
All jokes set aside, I'm sure the poor owner is traumatized with grief over taking another valuable human life. Kudos to the owner. As for the thief, Superman No. 1 isn't worth losing one's life over but it's too late to tell him that. 
Yeah, cynical and distasteful but I said it anyways.