According to investigators, a 93-year-old suburban Los Angeles homeowner shot and gravely wounded a burglar and scared off the criminal's accomplices. A relative claimed the man was frustrated after being the target of numerous house invasions.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the retired plumber, who has been identified as Joe Howard Teague, turned the tables on the group of home invaders early on Wednesday when he retrieved his rifle and confronted them inside his Moreno Valley home.
"I approached them to put them under citizen's arrest. They wouldn't adhere to that and then one of them came at me with a fishing pole," Teague told reporters outside his home.
He claimed that as he attempted to keep the suspects at gunpoint, they started hurling stuff at him after kicking open his door and entering his house.
"It was just like somebody comes to a gunfight with a pocketknife, you know," Teague said.
According to a statement from the sheriff's office, Teague contacted 911 at around 12:30 p.m. to report a burglary that was taking place at his house. According to the sheriff's office, Teague told a dispatcher that he had many suspects at gunpoint as deputies arrived.
At least one woman was among the suspects, according to Teague.
One of the alleged burglars was wounded by a gunshot when deputies arrived at Teague's residence.
Before deputies arrived, a witness reported seeing numerous people leaving Teague's house on foot.
According to the sheriff's department, the injured suspect, Joseph A. Ortega, 33, of Moreno Valley, was hospitalized in critical condition.
Defensive Handgun Use Points to Consider
Criminals are always looking for opportunity and vulnerability. Apparently they have invaded Teague's house before. They know he is vulnerable. And, apparently, they know the law enforcement response will be slow and ineffective to stop their home invasions.
In this context, the defensive handgun is the best choice for the homeowner to defend himself against multiple assailants. The homeowners advanced age and frail condition combined with the multiple attackers makes for a huge disparity of force which would, no doubt, could be deadly for the homeowner.
Effective self-defense with firearms depends on the skill to use them and the will to use them in the appropriate situation. Teague has apparently had enough of being victimized by criminals.
If you have been considering a firearm for the defense of your home, take this story as instructional. If he can do it successfully, you can do it successfully.
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