Teen shoots would-be burglary suspect

Post Reply New Topic

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=7528124]
One suspect is in jail, and the other is at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Kinzy Evans, 17, is still hospitalized. Charges against him are pending. The second suspect, a 16-year-old male juvenile, has been charged with burglary.

Investigators say they aren't sure whether Evans is going to make it. He was shot in both his legs and face by a 15-year-old who detectives say feared for his safety and the safety of his sister.

It happened at a home on Royal Place Court in northwest Harris County at around 2:30pm Tuesday.

"All he said was, 'Anybody seriously hurt?' and he said, 'Oh yeah, definitely,'" neighbor Renee Thompson said.

The blood on the driveway told a burglary-gone-bad story.

Deputies say the suspects broke into the home through a back window. From upstairs, the 15-year-old -- who was home with his 12-year-old sister -- heard the breaking glass and grabbed his father's automatic rifle. The burglary was soon over.

Family members rushed to the home, but the children's father, Vince Guerra, had beaten them all there. He's a Harris County Pct. 1 deputy constable and was on duty when it happened. No wonder his son knew what to do.

"We don't try to hide things from our children, and we try to give them a perspective about the way things are," Harris County Sheriff's Office Lt. Jeff Stauber said.

Within an hour, both Evans and the juvenile were in custody; they were caught at a nearby hospital while seeking help.

The juvenile was brought back to the scene, where deputies checked him for evidence and collected the rifle.

Neighbors backed what the 15-year-old did.

"I'm really glad he was able to defend himself," Thompson said.

Investigators concluded the shooting was justified.

"As parents, we protect our kids, and as an older brother, he was protecting his sister and himself," Stauber said.

Neighbors say there have been recent burglaries in the neighborhood.

Investigators said that rifle was the personal weapon of the teen's father, the deputy constable. He's been with the constable's office for 11 years and is described as a good officer.

There were some questions about whether he'd be liable for the shooting since his son had easy access to the weapon, but ABC13's legal expert says that the 15-year-old's right to protect his home and sister trumps all child firearm access laws.

If the 17y/o burglary suspect dies, the 16y/o burglary suspect can be charged with murder. I'm willing to bet that the 17y/o saw the 15y/o son with the AR-15 and thought "nice airsoft gun" and tried to rush him, so the 15y/o put 2 rounds into his legs, and that didn't stop him so he went for a headshot.

The number of airsoft guns on the market would make me reluctant to use my AR-15 in anything other than full civil unrest. I'd prefer to use one of my handguns or my shotgun so there is less chance of them not understanding that they'll leave in a bag if they don't cooperate. Winchester mil-spec 00 buckshot is better than .223/5.56 NATO at close range anyway.

Here's another one: Intruder tangles with retired elite soldier.

I bet most of them don't do it because they're dying of hunger on the street, they do it to be "cool" with some gang, or because they're on drugs.

These lowlives get no sympathy from me.

John_Browning

Stories like this are good to hear.

If they charge him with anything then I will be pissed. I think if someone's trying to bust into your house to steal your stuff and possibly endangering yourself or your loved ones, then you have the right to defend yourself by ANY MEANS NECESSARY, regardless of age.

Besides, if the kid is the son of a cop then I'm sure his dad has taught him what he needs to know about firearms and when and where it is acceptable to utilize them.

Some people may paint him as irresponsible for using excessive force, or for using a weapon he did not legally have permission to use, but in my honest opinion he seems ten times more mature than the average for his age.

Just watch is reaction if the suspect dies. If he is remorseful for causing the death of a fellow human being but still stands by his actions as far as defending himself and his sister, then forget pressing charges, they should be giving him a medal.

Well, this sounds like a success story.

Now, it wasn't perfect. After all, the 15-year-old should never have had access to that weapon. Also, the face isn't a proper target. Center mass, kids. But the point is that someone invaded a home, and the owners defended their property as is their right, and they all lived happily ever after.