The gene pool is upgraded again.
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20000627-20096.shtml
Doctor kills intruder, police say
Laura Cruz
El Paso Times
Victor Calzada / El Paso Times
An El Paso pediatrician shot and killed a 38-year-old man who forced his way into the doctor's Lower Valley home and threatened his family Monday morning, police said.
Dr. Joseph Segapeli, 44, of Via Placita in the Lower Valley, shot and killed Steven Craig Medrano of the 1800 block of Dean Martin at about 10:20 a.m. Monday after the intruder ordered the doctor to bring him a change of clothing, police said.
Medrano was holding the doctor's three children, their nanny and another man in the kitchen, said Sgt. Al Velarde, spokesman for the El Paso Police Department.
Medrano gained entrance into Segapeli's home in the Las Placitas Del Rey neighborhood by placing his hand in his shirt as if he had a weapon and ordering a construction worker -- who was in the doctor's back yard -- to knock on the door, Velarde said.
"The suspect forced his way into the house with the construction worker," Velarde said. "He then forced the family into the kitchen and told them to get on their knees."
Velarde said Medrano did not have a weapon, but Medrano told Segapeli he had one. Medrano ordered Segapeli to get him a change of clothes while the construction worker, the children's caretaker and the doctor's three children, ranging in age from 10 to 15, were held in the kitchen.
Segapeli returned to the kitchen with the clothes and a handgun, Velarde said. Segapeli told police that he gave Medrano the clothes, showed him the gun and ordered him to leave. Medrano then attacked Segapeli, at which time Segapeli fired the gun and shot him once in the chest, police said. Medrano was taken to Thomason Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police did not give information about the type or caliber of the handgun used in the shooting.
Police said that before entering the Segapeli home, Medrano tried to carjack a Mercury Villager LS van at a Kick 66 convenience store at North Loop and Americas, less than a mile from the Segapeli home. The woman driving the van apparently defended herself, and Medrano gave up, police said.
Medrano then crossed a crop field next to the convenience store and went into the Las Placitas Del Rey neighborhood.
Police searched the area, looking for the would-be carjacker. A man told police that someone fitting Medrano's description tried to break into a home in the 9400 block of North Loop.
It was about 10 minutes after the carjacking that Segapeli called to tell police that he had shot an intruder, police said.
"This is really unusual; we've never had anything like this," said Lorna Escobar, who said she has lived in the neighborhood 10 years. "I always lock my doors because you don't want any surprise visitors."
Escobar said the neighborhood doesn't have a formal Crime Watch program, but all the neighbors know each other and try to take care of each other.
Velarde said Medrano was arrested in 1999 in connection with an assault.
Police continue to investigate Monday morning's events.
"We are investigating this as a homicide," Velarde said. "It will be the district attorney who will ultimately determine whether a justification for the shooting existed."
Velarde said Texas law allows people to use deadly force to protect themselves, their families and their property if certain criteria exist.
Among the criteria is a reasonable belief that such force "is immediately necessary to prevent the other's use of unlawful deadly force" against himself or another, Velarde said.
Copyright © 2000(Updated) El Paso Times.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 27, 2000).]
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20000627-20096.shtml
Doctor kills intruder, police say
Laura Cruz
El Paso Times
Victor Calzada / El Paso Times
An El Paso pediatrician shot and killed a 38-year-old man who forced his way into the doctor's Lower Valley home and threatened his family Monday morning, police said.
Dr. Joseph Segapeli, 44, of Via Placita in the Lower Valley, shot and killed Steven Craig Medrano of the 1800 block of Dean Martin at about 10:20 a.m. Monday after the intruder ordered the doctor to bring him a change of clothing, police said.
Medrano was holding the doctor's three children, their nanny and another man in the kitchen, said Sgt. Al Velarde, spokesman for the El Paso Police Department.
Medrano gained entrance into Segapeli's home in the Las Placitas Del Rey neighborhood by placing his hand in his shirt as if he had a weapon and ordering a construction worker -- who was in the doctor's back yard -- to knock on the door, Velarde said.
"The suspect forced his way into the house with the construction worker," Velarde said. "He then forced the family into the kitchen and told them to get on their knees."
Velarde said Medrano did not have a weapon, but Medrano told Segapeli he had one. Medrano ordered Segapeli to get him a change of clothes while the construction worker, the children's caretaker and the doctor's three children, ranging in age from 10 to 15, were held in the kitchen.
Segapeli returned to the kitchen with the clothes and a handgun, Velarde said. Segapeli told police that he gave Medrano the clothes, showed him the gun and ordered him to leave. Medrano then attacked Segapeli, at which time Segapeli fired the gun and shot him once in the chest, police said. Medrano was taken to Thomason Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police did not give information about the type or caliber of the handgun used in the shooting.
Police said that before entering the Segapeli home, Medrano tried to carjack a Mercury Villager LS van at a Kick 66 convenience store at North Loop and Americas, less than a mile from the Segapeli home. The woman driving the van apparently defended herself, and Medrano gave up, police said.
Medrano then crossed a crop field next to the convenience store and went into the Las Placitas Del Rey neighborhood.
Police searched the area, looking for the would-be carjacker. A man told police that someone fitting Medrano's description tried to break into a home in the 9400 block of North Loop.
It was about 10 minutes after the carjacking that Segapeli called to tell police that he had shot an intruder, police said.
"This is really unusual; we've never had anything like this," said Lorna Escobar, who said she has lived in the neighborhood 10 years. "I always lock my doors because you don't want any surprise visitors."
Escobar said the neighborhood doesn't have a formal Crime Watch program, but all the neighbors know each other and try to take care of each other.
Velarde said Medrano was arrested in 1999 in connection with an assault.
Police continue to investigate Monday morning's events.
"We are investigating this as a homicide," Velarde said. "It will be the district attorney who will ultimately determine whether a justification for the shooting existed."
Velarde said Texas law allows people to use deadly force to protect themselves, their families and their property if certain criteria exist.
Among the criteria is a reasonable belief that such force "is immediately necessary to prevent the other's use of unlawful deadly force" against himself or another, Velarde said.
Copyright © 2000(Updated) El Paso Times.
[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited June 27, 2000).]
Treated as a homoside? The Doctor was in fear for his childrens lives! I can't see why the D.A. is even lookin' at this! It's a clear cut case! BUT,OOOOO NO! we can't have people protecting there children.
But I'm glad to see us Texans think alike.