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Intruder dies from shots by resident
Police say shooting of convicted thief appears to be justified
ROBERT F. MOORE
Staff Writer
A man charged with more than 30 offenses in the last eight years picked the wrong target for what police said was his last crime.
Police say Tyrone McKnight, a convicted thief, broke into an east Charlotte apartment about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Jerene Haron O'Neal, whom police say McKnight didn't know, was sleeping inside.
Once inside the apartment, the intruder was met by the awakened resident, who pointed a handgun at McKnight. O'Neal, 29, fired at least three shots, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.
McKnight, 34, of Charlotte was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he later died.
Police said it didn't appear the intruder had a weapon. None was found at the crime scene at the Sailboat Bay Apartments in the 5400 block of Albemarle Road, police said.
Police said the shooting appeared justifiable, but homicide detectives are still investigating. No one was charged.
"The case will be presented to the district attorney's office," said Capt. Sean Mulhall, who supervises the homicide unit.
O'Neal declined comment Wednesday afternoon.
McKnight's criminal history includes six convictions for writing worthless checks, Mecklenburg court records show.
He'd also been convicted of shoplifting, larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia, but never for a violent offense in Mecklenburg, records show.
His relatives could not be reached Wednesday.
Including the Albemarle Road shooting, at least eight intruders have been killed by residents or business owners in Charlotte since 2000. While records weren't immediately available, police couldn't recall a case among them where the shooter was charged with a crime.
Last summer, Terry Gaines, 33, disarmed and fatally shot a man inside his garage at his home on Idlewild Brook Lane near East W.T. Harris Boulevard.
Police said the district attorney declined to pursue charges.
Under N.C. law, a homeowner can use "any degree of force that the occupant reasonably believes is necessary, including deadly force" to prevent a break-in or "terminate the intruder's unlawful entry." The intruder need not be inside the home.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/5599263.htm
Police say shooting of convicted thief appears to be justified
ROBERT F. MOORE
Staff Writer
A man charged with more than 30 offenses in the last eight years picked the wrong target for what police said was his last crime.
Police say Tyrone McKnight, a convicted thief, broke into an east Charlotte apartment about 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Jerene Haron O'Neal, whom police say McKnight didn't know, was sleeping inside.
Once inside the apartment, the intruder was met by the awakened resident, who pointed a handgun at McKnight. O'Neal, 29, fired at least three shots, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.
McKnight, 34, of Charlotte was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where he later died.
Police said it didn't appear the intruder had a weapon. None was found at the crime scene at the Sailboat Bay Apartments in the 5400 block of Albemarle Road, police said.
Police said the shooting appeared justifiable, but homicide detectives are still investigating. No one was charged.
"The case will be presented to the district attorney's office," said Capt. Sean Mulhall, who supervises the homicide unit.
O'Neal declined comment Wednesday afternoon.
McKnight's criminal history includes six convictions for writing worthless checks, Mecklenburg court records show.
He'd also been convicted of shoplifting, larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia, but never for a violent offense in Mecklenburg, records show.
His relatives could not be reached Wednesday.
Including the Albemarle Road shooting, at least eight intruders have been killed by residents or business owners in Charlotte since 2000. While records weren't immediately available, police couldn't recall a case among them where the shooter was charged with a crime.
Last summer, Terry Gaines, 33, disarmed and fatally shot a man inside his garage at his home on Idlewild Brook Lane near East W.T. Harris Boulevard.
Police said the district attorney declined to pursue charges.
Under N.C. law, a homeowner can use "any degree of force that the occupant reasonably believes is necessary, including deadly force" to prevent a break-in or "terminate the intruder's unlawful entry." The intruder need not be inside the home.
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/news/5599263.htm
