Homeowner Shoots Suspect After 2 Break-Ins

[Mugu]

HOUSTON -- A southeast Houston homeowner shot a burglary suspect Thursday afternoon after he was victimized twice in a week, officials told KPRC Local 2.

Thomas Williamson lives in the 6000 block of Bois D'arc. He said he stayed home from work on Thursday after a burglar hit his home twice in a few days.

Williamson said he looked out his window at about 1 p.m. and saw a man walk across his back yard. The man went into Williamson's garage and tried to steal an air compressor, worth about $400, he said. When the burglary suspect walked out of the garage with bolt cutters, Williamson said he grabbed his shotgun.

"He came to the door and I went, 'Get on the ground. Get on the ground.' He got on the ground and I told him, 'Do not move,'" he said. "I was shaking. I had him on the ground with my shotgun and I told him, 'Do not move.' I was even yelling. I fired one shot in the ground just to show him I meant business."



Complete article at:
http://www.click2houston.com/news/15787233/detail.html

[TomInTib]

1. Sometimes, folks just get fed up.

I think the guy showed remarkable restraint for someone who had already taken two hits.

[Rage for Order]

2. Thanks for helping take out the trash Thomas! n/t

[americanyouth]

3. I just moved to a new city and my truck has been hit twice in a week...

If I catch him doing it, I'll definately shoot him. You have to give people the right to protect their property from people like that. What will the police do? Arrest him and let him back out to do it again. They can't do anything else. If these lowlifes know that we have the right to f**k them up if necessary, maybe they'll think twice.

[Mugu]

4. I realize that according to Texas law

this guy (the shooter) didn't do anything that he could be prosecuted for. However, I have a problem with shooting property perps when it's daylight, they're outside the home, and running away.

Regards, Mugu

Edit to add: I'm not advocating changing the law, it just makes me uncomfortable.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mugu]

8. You must have misread my post.

Plus I was adding the edit part so there may be some confusion. I have no problem shooting people that need it and I don't want this guy prosecuted. I just don't like the idea of shooting property crooks in the back outside the home during daylight hours.

Regards, Mugu

[Squatch]

9. Perp Hunting Hours: 1/2 hour after sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise

:rofl:

[Crunchy Frog]

11. It's an occupational hazzard in that line of work

and I expect the burgler was aware of that going in. I have no problem with it at all.

[annabanana]

5. "Williamson said he shot the man when he tried to run. "

I doubt the guy would have tried this house again, shot or NOT shot.

[Squatch]

7. "tried to run"

So, what he's telling us is that he was no longer a threat to him or his property. Why did he shoot the dude again?

[The Straight Story]

12. Maybe because he was gonna be a threat to others now

Sure, maybe he would not come back to that house, but obviously this person has no care for others and would more than likely go out again and target someone else.

If you break into someone's home, and they have a gun and tell you not to run - then imho you are pretty dumb to run :) And if you are that crazy, chances are someone else along the line is going to be a victim to your craziness.

Imagine how he would have felt if he just let him go and then a neighbor was killed by that person?

[mahina]

10. Three times, I've been home when people walked right in.

Just yesterday a man walked right past our front door and into our home. He was pretty surprised to see us and starting talking some BS about helping gangmembers, and fundraising, but he had no badge, no literature, no clipboard or anything I've taken with me in canvassing over the years.

He was lying, for sure.

We have several pepper spray cannisters around the house but I'm keeping one handier now. And it's not the first or second time.

After he left I thought about what Barack said in his race speech, about education in poor communities. Later in the day, passing some homeless people, I reflected on a great post I read here yesterday about Ronald Reagan's reduction of HUD funding from 83 billion to 18 billion. (or close.)

I have real hope that if we prevail in 08, things will get better in the very long run. Meanwhile dusting off the pepper spray.