Drizzt
Member
Police name man who shot apparent burglar
Officials have not said if it was man who later died
By Luis Hernandez
Staff writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TULARE -- On Wednesday, police identified Mike Stapleton as the homeowner who shot a suspected burglar Monday night.
Raymond Rodriguez Sr., 39, of Tulare died at Tulare District Hospital after he arrived in the emergency room with a single gunshot wound about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The man reportedly drove himself to the hospital. Police have not positively identified Rodriguez as the man Stapleton shot.
According to police:
Stapleton was awakened just before 6:30 p.m. Monday by noises from the rear of his residence. He got a gun from a locked box and began checking the house's interior.
Stapleton told police he heard noises coming from the rear sliding glass door and looked through the drawn blinds and observed an unknown male standing in the door. He said he shouted as the burglar lunged at him.
Stapleton stepped back and fired one round.
The burglar ran away through the back yard.
Stapleton immediately reported the incident to authorities and while they were arriving at his 872 Orinda Ave. address, police received a report of a man showing up at the hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound.
The man died before police could question him.
At Stapleton's home, investigators discovered evidence of pry marks on the rear sliding door, indicating an attempted entry, police said.
The door had been partially pried open. Detectives also found what they believe to be blood.
Police said Stapleton's gun was also taken as evidence.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/news/stories/20030123/localnews/834470.html
Officials have not said if it was man who later died
By Luis Hernandez
Staff writer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TULARE -- On Wednesday, police identified Mike Stapleton as the homeowner who shot a suspected burglar Monday night.
Raymond Rodriguez Sr., 39, of Tulare died at Tulare District Hospital after he arrived in the emergency room with a single gunshot wound about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
The man reportedly drove himself to the hospital. Police have not positively identified Rodriguez as the man Stapleton shot.
According to police:
Stapleton was awakened just before 6:30 p.m. Monday by noises from the rear of his residence. He got a gun from a locked box and began checking the house's interior.
Stapleton told police he heard noises coming from the rear sliding glass door and looked through the drawn blinds and observed an unknown male standing in the door. He said he shouted as the burglar lunged at him.
Stapleton stepped back and fired one round.
The burglar ran away through the back yard.
Stapleton immediately reported the incident to authorities and while they were arriving at his 872 Orinda Ave. address, police received a report of a man showing up at the hospital emergency room with a gunshot wound.
The man died before police could question him.
At Stapleton's home, investigators discovered evidence of pry marks on the rear sliding door, indicating an attempted entry, police said.
The door had been partially pried open. Detectives also found what they believe to be blood.
Police said Stapleton's gun was also taken as evidence.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/news/stories/20030123/localnews/834470.html