By Grayson Kamm
First Coast News
MACCLENNY, FL -- Police say a suspect was shot early Thursday morning by a man who was protecting his home and his pregnant wife.
Police are calling it a home invasion robbery.
A 17-year-old boy is in police custody, while his brother is in the hospital in critical condition.
Friends locked up the gate Thursday afternoon to the Macclenny home that will never feel the same for Jody Paul Thrift and his pregnant wife Sabrina.
Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson says early Thursday morning, Jody Paul got up to get some water, and noticed his lights were out. But the power was still on at the house next door.
"So he knew that something was up," Sheriff Dobson said.
Dobson says Richard Munoz and his 17-year-old brother had cut the power and phone lines to the house.
Dobson says the pair then took a boat anchor from a shed and hurled it through a glass door.
"So [the victim] went to his bedroom, retrieved his firearm, [and] waited in his bedroom," Dobson said.
"And as [the suspect] opened the door, [Thrift] saw a flashlight, a little, small flashlight, and he began to fire. And he shot at the suspect, and the suspect fell right in his bedroom door," Dobson said.
As three Baker County deputies sped to the scene, they say they came across the younger suspect, scrambling through the woods toward the getaway car.
Deputies put him under arrest.
Sheriff Dobson says the older suspect, Richard Munoz, was carrying a cocked and loaded pistol with him the whole time.
In fact, when deputies found Munoz on the floor of the house, they say he was still trying to reach for his gun.
There's no word yet on why the Thrift family may have been a target.
Police are investigating whether the suspect ever fired his gun inside the home. He is in critical condition at Shands Jacksonville.
Created: 12/29/2005 12:16:00 PM
Updated: 12/29/2005 8:14:35 PM
Edited by Neill Vining, Assignment Editor
