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Homeowner thwarts break-in try with 3 shots
Police seeking man who fled the scene, left his car running in the driveway
By Jeremy Hudson
[email protected]
Vickie D. King/The Clarion-Ledger
Homeowner Edward Blair (left) writes down the circumstances surrounding an attempted break-in he thwarted at his south Jackson residence Tuesday.
A man who attempted to break into a south Jackson home on Tuesday left the car he was driving running in the homeowner's driveway as he fled.
But that wasn't the only error in his bungled attempted burglary at 1789 Shady Lane Drive. The first was trying to break in as the family was watching television, only to be stopped at the door by the homeowner.
"His eyes got mighty big when he saw what was waiting on him," said homeowner Edward Blair, a security guard with Wright's Security Service, who grabbed his .38-caliber revolver and stood patiently in the kitchen near the front door after hearing a racket about 1 p.m.
The door cracked, from the impact of the kicks, and the man stuck his head through to peer at what he could loot.
Blair fired three shots at the skinny man wearing a blue shirt, but didn't wound him. Blair tried to open the door and chase the man — who bolted toward Raymond Road and left the still-running older-model blue Cadillac Deville in the carport — but the door was jammed.
"I wanted to see if I could catch him and take him down," Blair said. "But he was running for his life."
What the burglar didn't know was Blair and his family moved into the house three weeks ago, and most of their electronics and furniture had not made the move with them. Blair's two children, ages 4 and 7, were home during the attempted burglary.
The car had a Hinds County license plate and had not been reported stolen, said officers at the scene. Footprints left on the carport door show the burglar tried to kick his way in at that door before trying the front door.
Ann Blair, Edward's wife, suspects the burglar scoped out the residence and thought no one was home because there was no car in the driveway. She drives the car during the day, and her husband drives it to work at night.
"Someone is always home," she said. "I'm just glad my babies are OK. Nobody was hurt and that is the important thing."
Jackson Police Department spokesman Robert Graham said a burglary detective has been assigned to the case and the car that was left behind will be a good starting place in the investigation.
Ann Blair said her family moved to Shady Lane Drive from Maple Street because it seemed like a quiet, safe neighborhood. No other home burglaries have been reported on Shady Lane Drive this year, Graham said.
"This makes me worry," she said. "If you can't be safe in your house, you can't be safe anywhere."
It was the fourth time in the past year gunfire has turned back home burglars in Jackson.[\B]
In October, Tommy Christian, a homeowner on Floral Drive, fatally shot Christopher Stiff, 31, while Stiff was trying to break into his home. Christian was to go before a Hinds County grand jury, but he has not heard from authorities.
In September, Sinartha Bradfield shot and killed Anthony Mayers, 31, while Mayers was trying to break into his home. A Hinds County grand jury cleared Bradfield earlier this year.
In April, two Jackson police officers fatally shot Kenyatta Bronson, 24, while Bronson was burglarizing a home on Dunbar Street. A JPD Internal Affairs investigation cleared the officers, who were allowed to return to work after policy dictated they be placed on paid leave.
Homeowner thwarts break-in try with 3 shots
Police seeking man who fled the scene, left his car running in the driveway
By Jeremy Hudson
[email protected]
Vickie D. King/The Clarion-Ledger
Homeowner Edward Blair (left) writes down the circumstances surrounding an attempted break-in he thwarted at his south Jackson residence Tuesday.
A man who attempted to break into a south Jackson home on Tuesday left the car he was driving running in the homeowner's driveway as he fled.
But that wasn't the only error in his bungled attempted burglary at 1789 Shady Lane Drive. The first was trying to break in as the family was watching television, only to be stopped at the door by the homeowner.
"His eyes got mighty big when he saw what was waiting on him," said homeowner Edward Blair, a security guard with Wright's Security Service, who grabbed his .38-caliber revolver and stood patiently in the kitchen near the front door after hearing a racket about 1 p.m.
The door cracked, from the impact of the kicks, and the man stuck his head through to peer at what he could loot.
Blair fired three shots at the skinny man wearing a blue shirt, but didn't wound him. Blair tried to open the door and chase the man — who bolted toward Raymond Road and left the still-running older-model blue Cadillac Deville in the carport — but the door was jammed.
"I wanted to see if I could catch him and take him down," Blair said. "But he was running for his life."
What the burglar didn't know was Blair and his family moved into the house three weeks ago, and most of their electronics and furniture had not made the move with them. Blair's two children, ages 4 and 7, were home during the attempted burglary.
The car had a Hinds County license plate and had not been reported stolen, said officers at the scene. Footprints left on the carport door show the burglar tried to kick his way in at that door before trying the front door.
Ann Blair, Edward's wife, suspects the burglar scoped out the residence and thought no one was home because there was no car in the driveway. She drives the car during the day, and her husband drives it to work at night.
"Someone is always home," she said. "I'm just glad my babies are OK. Nobody was hurt and that is the important thing."
Jackson Police Department spokesman Robert Graham said a burglary detective has been assigned to the case and the car that was left behind will be a good starting place in the investigation.
Ann Blair said her family moved to Shady Lane Drive from Maple Street because it seemed like a quiet, safe neighborhood. No other home burglaries have been reported on Shady Lane Drive this year, Graham said.
"This makes me worry," she said. "If you can't be safe in your house, you can't be safe anywhere."
It was the fourth time in the past year gunfire has turned back home burglars in Jackson.[\B]
In October, Tommy Christian, a homeowner on Floral Drive, fatally shot Christopher Stiff, 31, while Stiff was trying to break into his home. Christian was to go before a Hinds County grand jury, but he has not heard from authorities.
In September, Sinartha Bradfield shot and killed Anthony Mayers, 31, while Mayers was trying to break into his home. A Hinds County grand jury cleared Bradfield earlier this year.
In April, two Jackson police officers fatally shot Kenyatta Bronson, 24, while Bronson was burglarizing a home on Dunbar Street. A JPD Internal Affairs investigation cleared the officers, who were allowed to return to work after policy dictated they be placed on paid leave.
