(IL) Dad shoots intruder outside daughter's bedroom 06-06-03

[WAGCEVP]

(IL) Dad shoots intruder outside daughter's bedroom 06-06-03

Chicago Tribune | Police: Dad shot intruder outside daughter's room
Address:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-030606shooting,0,4938121.story?coll=chi-news-hed
By Virginia Groark
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 6, 2003, 1:47 PM CDT

Franklin Park police and the Cook County state's attorney's office are
to meet this afternoon to decide if charges should be brought against a
village resident who fatally shot and killed a neighbor who broke into
his home Thursday night, authorities said.

Police also are trying to determine if the resident had a firearm
owner's identification card for the .45-caliber semi-automatic weapon he
allegedly fired, fatally wounding Steven Langendorf, 24, of the 3000
block of North Gustav Street in the western suburb.

Around 10 p.m., the man, his wife and their 13-year-old daughter heard a
noise outside their home on the 3000 block of North Calwagner Avenue,
Franklin Park Police Chief Randall Petersen said.

Shortly afterward, Langendorf forced his way through a window in the
daughter's bedroom, where she had been finishing her homework, Petersen
said. While his wife called 911, the homeowner grabbed his gun and
confronted Langendorf in a hallway outside the teenager's bedroom.

The resident fired two warning shots, and when Langendorf continued to
approach, he shot him in the neck, Petersen said. No one else was
injured in the incident.

Police arrived at the home and found
Langendorf lying on the hallway floor. He was taken to Gottlieb Memorial
Hospital, Melrose Park, where he was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m.,
according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Langendorf's home is located diagonally and across the alley from the
one he allegedly invaded. Petersen said he did not think the two
families were friends but added, "They must have known each other at
least by sight."
Petersen said Langendorf did not have an arrest record.

"There's nothing," the chief said. "It doesn't fit." A family friend
said Langendorf went to a local high school and college and worked for a
rental car company. He was engaged to be married.

 

[mete]

I suppose the facts will all come out but one thing , you should never fire warning shots !!

 

[Matt G]

I've got to admit that the chief's statement rings home to me, too: It's an odd circumstance. Perp has zero history, and the families had no interaction prior to this. Odd.

Sad that, because it was in Cook Co. IL, they're looking for ways to charge the father. If this went down the way it's being reported, the father and his family are the victims of a home invasion, and the father is nothing less than a hero. Here in TX (especially in the more westernly counties), this would fall under the "Clearly Needed Killing" doctrine. Grand Jury would No Bill so fast, the referral wouldn't finish being read to them.

 

[pax]

Petersen said he did not think the two
families were friends but added, "They must have known each other at least by sight."

There it is again -- the silly and dangerous notion that if you recognize the attacker, the attack is somehow less dangerous and defending yourself from it is unnecessary. The idea is that 'knowing' the attacker somehow makes the vicim bullet- and stab-proof.

Thousands of women with stalkers have discovered the tragic flaw in that notion.

If someone forced his way into my child's room late at night, gave every evidence of intending violence to me or mine, and did not stop when ordered to do so at gunpoint, I certainly hope that consideration as to whether I recognize the miscreant would not prevent me from performing the prescribed ritual.

pax

Criminal arrestees experience high levels of firearm victimization. Over half report being threatened with a gun and 42 percent have been shot at with a gun. -- National Institutes of Justice. NIJ Research Preview: Arrestees and Guns: Monitoring the Illegal Firearms Market, September 1995

 

[Wildalaska]

Hmmm...seems suspicious...maybe there is sometghing more here...like between perp and girl?

WildneverjumptoconclusionsAlaska

 

[CZ-75]

Hmmm...seems suspicious...maybe there is sometghing more here...like between perp and girl?

Yeah, like the perp gets his jollies staring into a THIRTEEN YEAR-OLD girl's bedroom when she undresses at night and he pleasures himself. That fantasy could only go so far, so kidnapping and raping her were next, ala Elizabeth Smart, followed, 99+% of the time by murder, either to cover up the crime or because that's part of the fantasy.

 

[MJRW]

Why is it that the guy "allegedly" invaded the home but the homeowner did not "allegedly" shoot him?

 

[FPrice]

"Petersen said he did not think the two families were friends but added, "They must have known each other at least by sight."

This will most likely make the category, "Killed by a relative or friend." proving that you are more likely to be killed by someone you know.

 

[txgolfer45]

Stranger in the house at night. Obviously not an invited guest. After being warned, the stranger advances on the homeowner. Homeowner fearful for his family's safety and his own. Homeowner shoots stranger. Seems like an ok shoot to me.

What's to investigate other than that crappy firearms license issue. Glad I left Cook County, Illinois 23 years ago.

Scott

 

[Blueduck]

It's an odd circumstance. Perp has zero history, and the families had no interaction prior to this.

Langendorf went to a local high school

Didn't have time to aquire a crimminal history, thats a good thing.

 

[TallPine]

That girl in San Diego was kidnapped and murdered by the next door neighbor that the parents knew well.

 

[JohnKSa]

I know my next door neighbors on one side because they attend my church--I know both their first names and might recognize their last names--can't remember the last name at the moment. I don't know any of their kid's names. I know my next door neighbor on the other side because occasionally, I pay him to mow my yard when I'm sick or have to travel a lot. I know him by first name and by sight. I might recognize his wife, but can't remember her name, nor do I know their last name.

Where I lived last, I knew only two neighbors as well. One across the street, and one next door.

I wouldn't recognize ANY of my other neighbors from my last two residences by sight or by name. Typical of suburban neighborhoods, I think.

 

[Kharn]

My parents know our neighbors well, but I could only pick the guy living to our left out of a group, not his wife or children (both adults, but living at home) or any of our other neighbors (I see him walking his dogs every morning).

But even with that, I know who should be inside my house once the sun goes down and its not hard to tell who isn't on that short list. Anyone that does not belong will definitely not recieve an offer for coffee and cake.

Kharn

 

[Wildalaska]

Yeah, like the perp gets his jollies staring into a THIRTEEN YEAR-OLD girl's bedroom when she undresses at night and he pleasures himself

Hmm I didnt see that in the article...

WildmyfirstcommentI decidednototusesoasnottobreakrulesAlaska

 

[Miss Demeanors]

Franklin Park is right near my home and my Uncle used to live there for many years. I have yet to see this story on the local news I haven't checked the papers but did not see it on the news.

Judging what I read in the said article above, I don't know what really happened so I can't comment much. I can tell you that Franklin Park is not a 'wonderful' suburb what so ever. Throughout the years it has gone downhill, that is why my Uncle moved out. Very gang infested.

With that said, who knows what kind of neighbors he had. Just because you 'see' a neighbor doesn't necessarily mean you 'know them'. I've seen alot of my neighbors but if I were to see one breaking into my daughters bedroom, I don't care who they are I will protect my daughter. So this could have been the case, I don't know. It will be interesting to read a follow up on this story. If I hear anything, I'll post it.

 

[CZ-75]

WildmyfirstcommentI decidednototusesoasnottobreakrulesAlaska

Why, was it another attmpt to place recrimination on a 13 year-old girl? She was just asking for it, you know.


Stick with defaming your competition, Steve.

 

[pax]

Ahem.

pax the Moderator

 

[FPrice]

pax...

"Ahem. "

Nothing like a mother with the "look" to keep the children in line.