Another two bite the dust

jimpeel

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These are the types of stories that just warm the heart.

From the Colorado Springs Gazette 11-20-00:

Shots end break-in

By Danielle Nieves/The Gazette
Edited by Mike Braham; headline by Rob Russell

A 72-year-old woman shot a man several times after he allegedly forced his way into her home through the back door late Saturday, Colorado Springs police said.
Anthony Peralez, 44, of Colorado Springs remained in critical condition at Memorial Hospital on Sunday night, hospital officials said. Police suspect him of breaking into the woman's home.

The incident will be reviewed by the District Attorney's Office to determine whether the shooting falls under the so-called "Make My Day" law. Colorado law permits use of deadly force against intruders if the occupants of a home believe they may be harmed.

The shooting is the second in which a Colorado Springs homeowner has shot an intruder this year. On Sept. 22, a 63-year-old man shot three men who broke into his Briargate house in the 7600 block of Downywood Court about 1 a.m.

Thursday night, an intruder shot an armed homeowner in Rockrimmon.

In Saturday's incident, the woman, whom authorities would not identify, told police she shot a man who forced his way into her home in the 1200 block of Prairie Road at about 11 p.m.

The woman first tried to scare the intruder by turning on the inside lights, but he continued forcing his way through the back door. She then fired several shots from a handgun in the man's direction and he fled out the back door, police said.

Police said the woman was not injured.

Authorities did not say how many shots she fired or what type of gun she used. They did not say if she lived alone.

The suspect was caught following a hit-and-run crash that occurred in the 2500 block of East San Miguel Street, about five blocks from the woman's home. Witnesses told police the driver's vehicle had damage to the front.

Shortly afterward, police received a call about a possible crash near The Citadel mall. The caller said the vehicle had front-end damage and a flat tire.

Police found a damaged vehicle going southbound on Academy Boulevard and stopped the suspect at Bijou Street. They discovered he had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.

Neighbors said the shooting was an isolated incident in a safe community.

"I've never felt unsafe here," said Amy Uhrich, who has lived at Uintah Street and Prairie Road for 23 years.

"It's been years since we've had break-ins here that I'm aware of."

Police did not know if there is a connection to two unsolved sexual assaults that occurred near Memorial Hospital in August and September. The women, one 56 and the other in her 70s, lived alone and were attacked in their homes.

In September, the District Attorney's Office and a police investigation found Carter Westfall, a Briargate homeowner, was acting in self-defense when he shot at intruders during a break-in.

Steven Trujillo, 18, died at Memorial Hospital, and Toby Rael, 19, and Thomas Bernal, 22, were arrested when they sought treatment for minor gunshot wounds at a Pueblo hospital. The District Attorney's Office in October filed burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary charges against Rael and Bernal.

Thursday, Gerry Shisler was wounded in the arm after confronting an intruder in his Rockrimmon house.

Jeremy Petschow, 22, was arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Petschow's alleged accomplice, Brandon Warren, 26, was arrested Thursday.
 
what does this have to do with it?

Thursday night, an intruder shot an armed homeowner in
Rockrimmon.

Now, what does this have to do with self defense story? It kind of just "stands out" and makes one think that having guns for self defense, as stated in the article, really isn't that good of an idea.

USP45usp
 
The part they left out of that portion of the story was that the homeowner in Rockrimmon had armed himself prior to going down into his basement to investigate the noises heard there. There was an exchange of gunfire in that incident.

In fact, going to the archives at http://www.gazette.com I find no reference whatsoever to this story./
 
More on this subject

Suspect recovering

Man was shot during an alleged break-in

By Jeremy Meyer/The Gazette
Edited by Mike Braham; headline by Andy Obermueller

A man suspected of forcing his way into a Knob Hill house was recovering from surgery Monday as police contemplated the charges they will seek.
Anthony Peralez, 40, of Colorado Springs is suspected of breaking into a house in the 1200 block of Prairie Road late Saturday and being shot by the 72-year-old female homeowner, whom police refused to identify.

The burglary suspect fled from the house. Police later pulled over a car they thought had caused two hit-and-run crashes shortly after the break-in, said Sgt. Rod Walker, head of the Colorado Springs major crimes unit.

Officers noticed Peralez, who was driving, was bleeding from possible gunshot wounds, Walker said.

Peralez was in fair condition at Memorial Hospital. He has not been arrested.

Police are also looking into the similarities between Saturday's break-in and two rapes that occurred in August and September, Walker said.

In those cases, the women, who lived alone, were stalked and raped by a man who broke in through the back door. Police described the suspect as 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 170 pounds with brown hair.

Peralez is 40, 5 feet 8 inches with brown hair. He weighs 145 pounds. Police think he entered the Prairie Road home through the back door.

"We're certainly aware that he fits (the profile)," Walker said. "But we need evidence to bring that forward. It's tough to say anything more about that."

Walker said police have yet to talk to Peralez.

The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office will decide next week whether charges will be filed against the shooter or whether the incident falls under the state's so-called "Make My Day" law, which allows residents to use deadly force to protect themselves in their homes.

On Monday, neighbors were astonished that their quiet neighborhood could be rocked by a shooting and a break-in.

"This is kind of a wake-up call," said Lori Crouch. "I'm really hoping it's the same person (who committed the rapes). I'm just hoping we find out soon. I'm just so proud of (the shooter)."

Jerry Coenen, who lives with Crouch, agreed.

"If there was ever a place where (shooting) was justified, this was it," he said.

It was the second incident since September in which a homeowner has shot an alleged intruder.

The first happened Sept. 22 in Briargate, when 63-year-old Carter Westfall shot three men who broke into his house in the 7600 block of Downywood Court at about 1 a.m.

Steven Trujillo, 18, died and Toby Rael, 19, and Thomas Bernal, 22, were arrested when they sought treatment for minor gunshot wounds at a Pueblo hospital.

The District Attorney's Office in October filed burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary charges against Rael and Bernal.

Thursday, Gerry Shisler was wounded in the arm after confronting an intruder in his Rockrimmon house.

Jeremy Petschow, 22, was arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Petschow's alleged accomplice, Brandon Warren, 26, was arrested Thursday. Petschow was advised of his rights on Monday.
 
Should we be e-mailing these stories and links to the HCI site so that they are informed about the numerous times guns are used in home/self defense? How about e-mailing them to the Democrats and news services? Flood their info sites.
 
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