Two dead in North Dallas shootout -home invasion gone bad?

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Two dead in North Dallas shootout -home invasion gone (corrected ) the right way.

(Edited- corrected subject to "gone the right way" from "bad")S.A.

From http://www.wfaa.com

Found this making the news this morning here in Dallas. I wonder if there's more to it than meets the eye. One of the BG's was reported as wearing a latex glove. Home invasion burglary in a gated community? I wonder just how folks feel about their association fees and on-site security now at 0900, let alone 0100.

Regards,
Rabbit.


Two dead in North Dallas shootout
01/23/2003

By TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning News


A Far North Dallas resident shot and killed two would-be burglars in a gated community in Far North Dallas on Thursday morning, according to police.

A 29-year-old man called 911 shortly after 9 a.m. to report hearing someone breaking in through the side door of his townhouse in the 15800 block of Knoll Trail Drive just off the Dallas North Tollway. The resident, who has not been identified, was home with his wife and children at the time.

Police Sgt. Ken Sprecher said the resident confronted a man in the living room, and the man opened fire.

The resident retreated into his bedroom, got a handgun and returned fire. The resident was shot in the shoulder and arm and was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released.

One man was dead inside the residence, and a second was found dead near a hedge outside the complex, called Kensington Square. The dead man outside was wearing a red vest, jeans and black boots and had a latex glove on one hand. Another glove lay nearby, and a handgun was lying about 15 feet away.

Also Online
Video: Chris Heinbaugh reports

Police said they are looking for a possible third suspect who left the scene in a car. The dead men have not yet been identified.

E-mail: [email protected]

Watch WFAA-TV (Channel 8) for updates on this story throughout the day, and read more in Friday's Dallas Morning News


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Online at: http://www.wfaa.com/latestnews/stories/012303dnmet3shot.4ef02984.html

 

[Sven]

Good guys: two points
Bad guys: six feet under

 

[denfoote]

Two scumbags caught taking a dirt nap!! This is a good thing!!

 

[Bostonterrier97]

Wow! That is only 5 miles from my Aunt's house.

 

[Yohan]

I hope the family of the burglars don't sue

 

[Slotback]

This is more like home invasion gone right-for the homeowner.

 

[Beer for my Horses]

home invasion gone bad?

Do they ever go "good"??????

 

[Chipperman]

The families of the dead men should sue the latex glove makers! It obviously threw off the BG's aim.

 

[thumbtack]

I hope the family of the burglars don't sue

I don't think there is a jury in Texas that would award their family a dollar after they shot him first. If this was to go to court and the judge did not throw this case out then he should be shot.

 

[spacemanspiff]

lets see, a gated community, resided in by texans that are almost always armed, and 2-possibly 3 criminals thinking they can get away with commiting crimes there?

where did these criminals come from? certainly not texans, thats for dang sure.

*one more reason to not take off the holster when arriving at home.*

 

[HS/LD]

See good things do happen!


HS/LD

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

No telling, spiffy....maybe they took a wrong turn at Albuquerque and thought it was Australia. The area of town where this took place is affluent, not far from the high-tech corridors of the area. Just a few miles from where I live. I can't wait to see the 2200 news reports on it. I bet there is a lot of explaining to do to the homeowner's association and vice-versa. At least the homeowner was treated and released from his wounds, which would indicate a superficiality. I imagine the Oshman's just south of ther is going to be busy selling ammo and such this evening well into next week.

This sort of thing has been rare in this end of town, but it sure looks to me like it moved north in spite of all best efforts. I've been seeing a few more 'crime alert' yard signs posted in the neighborhoods of North Dallas and Richardson over the last month or two (been house-hunting and I notice such things). I guess we're going to see another little spike in Texas CHL applications this month too.

As for me, the last place I'd want to live is inside a gated, walled community. Comanches haven't been a problem in north central Texas for 100 years. Feels too much like living in a pen if you ask me. False security...it sure looks like they left the gate standing wide open for these jackals to cruise right on in. Too bad they don't require keycard or PIN access to get OUT.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[Blackhawk]

"Don't mess with Texas."

 

[Ed Brunner]

Darwinism at work???

 

[BerettaNut92]

Hope his shoulder is better.

 

[jmbg29]

Two dead in North Dallas shootout -home invasion gone bad?

Sounds like, all things being equal, that it went exceedingly well. Unless we were supposed to be rooting for the bad guys?!?

 

[cobb]

These idiots where maybe from Minnesota and just jumped on I-90 and headed south to get away from our seasonal weather that hits in January. In Minnesota these idiots would have gotten away with what they planned, and if not, the home owner would had been at fault.
In this case, they probably where really surprized because this most likely wouldn't of happen to them in Minnesota.

 

[El Rojo]

Why go to investigate without a handgun?

 

[4v50 Gary]

Don't you just love stories with happy endings?

Kudos to the man who defended himself, his wife & child and his home.

 

[King]

And the gene pool gets cleaner by 2.

Like Blackhawk mentioned, "Don't Mess With Texas (or Texans)".

I won't lose any sleep over those two thugs.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I like stories with happy endings.

 

[The Plainsman]

Yea for our side - for a change...

Cobb, if those guys got from Minnesota to Texas via I-90, it's no wonder they were screwed up. Shootin' them was probably the kindest thing you could do for them.

 

[Hardtarget]

El Rojo, you've hit the nail on the head! Any "bump in the night" get a visit from me... my .45 in one hand, a good light in the other...wifey ready to call the police. I don't trust anything any moore...even the cat walks softly.
Mark.

 

[Robby from Long Island]

Hey Cobb,

Are you trying to say the BG's from Minnesota are as stupid as the BG's from New York? I personally take great offense when you indicate that.

We pride ourselves on breeding the dumbest, stupidest and least motivated type of criminal behaviour that society demands. I don't think Minnesota has that type of budget.

What does surprise me is that one of the morons got away. You might be right.......they might be from Minnesota

 

[Drizzt]

Resident kills 2 intruders
Man probably won't face charges in home shootout

01/24/2003

By TANYA EISERER and JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News

A Far North Dallas man who shot and killed two would-be burglars Thursday morning probably will not face charges, according to Dallas police and legal experts.

About 9 a.m. Thursday, the 29-year-old man was at home with his wife and three young children when a man knocked on the side door and asked for someone the resident did not know, police said.

One or both suspects then forced their way into the apartment, shooting the resident once in the arm, police said. The resident retreated to his bedroom, retrieved a gun, and a shootout ensued in the living room on Knoll Trail Drive near the Dallas North Tollway, police said.

"The preliminary investigation has determined that the homeowner apparently was justified in using deadly force in shooting the two intruders," said Sgt. Ken Sprecher, a homicide unit supervisor. "The investigation will continue, and the cases will be referred to the grand jury."

Legal experts said that because the resident returned fire to protect life and property, he probably won't face criminal charges.

"In Texas, we maximize the idea of your home is your castle, and if intruders break in, they do so at their own peril," said Jerry Dowling, a criminal law professor at Sam Houston State University.

Police did not release the name of the resident Thursday. They said the intruders who were killed had not been identified.

Dallas County First Assistant District Attorney Mike Carnes said the county handles such incidents on a case-by-case basis.

Other states allow homeowners to use deadly force as a last resort – "when your back is to the wall," Mr. Dowling said.

A law professor for more than 30 years, Mr. Dowling said he never heard of district attorneys prosecuting a homeowner for defending property inside a residence.

Most often, he said, the district attorney will refer the cases to grand juries to serve as the "conscience of the community."

Grand juries typically decline to indict the homeowners, he said.

Dallas police say both intruders were shot inside the apartment Thursday. The resident, who is a business owner, was treated at Parkland Memorial Hospital and released.

One man was killed inside the residence, and the second man was found dead near a hedge outside the Kensington Square complex.

The dead man outside was wearing a red vest, jeans and black boots and had a latex glove on one hand. A gun was near his body, which remained uncovered for at least an hour until the medical examiner and crime scene investigators could arrive and collect evidence. Dallas police said that their first priority is to gather evidence before disturbing the crime scene and that it's rare for a body to be in public view.

Witnesses reported seeing a third man leaving in a large dark four-door vehicle, possibly a Cadillac.

The resident and his wife told authorities Thursday afternoon that they did not know the intruders, Sgt. Sprecher said.

Mike Tennis, 24, who was in the next-door condominium when the shooting occurred, said he was rattled by the gunbattle at what he thought was a secure community in a relatively safe neighborhood.

"They said it was a break-in," Mr. Tennis said. "I'm planning to move to another section of the complex. I would never have moved here if I thought this could happen. It's a beautiful area. It just proves this can happen anywhere."

Justifiable homicides aren't included in the year-end tallies that law enforcement agencies report to the state and FBI, so data aren't readily available, Mr. Dowling said. Most examples are anecdotal. Dallas police said they don't track such data.

Homeowners cleared of criminal wrongdoing by a grand jury could face lawsuits, Mr. Dowling said.

"The standard in criminal law is what the individual perceives," he said. "But the civil standard is more what the reasonable person would do. A reasonable person may act a bit differently than what the individual would have done."

http://www.dallasnews.com/localnews/stories/012403dnmetshooting.646c6.html