The 16-year-old’s father maintains his son’s innocence and said they will fight it all the way. (Photo: ABC)
Two teens suspected of multiple residential burglaries are in police custody thanks, in part, to a contractor who fought back during an attempted robbery at a Lake Jackson, Texas, home on Aug. 11.
According to the contractor, whose name has not been released, he was in the middle of painting a garage at the home when he was approached by the two teens, at least one of whom was armed with a handgun, a local ABC affiliate reported. But what the teens didn’t know was that the contractor was also armed and when the suspect pointed a gun at him and he reacted by pulling his own gun and shooting the suspect twice.
After shots were fired, 911 operators received several calls from concerned neighborhood residents who said the gunshots were out of place and not a typical sound heard in the area. The 911 operators assured residents that police were on their way, and when officers arrived, they found the 15-year-old suspect sitting on the front porch suffering from gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hip. He was found to be in possession of a handgun, and his accomplice – at least for the time – was nowhere to be found.
The suspect was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment and is expected to survive.
The next day, the second suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was arrested for armed robbery following a different crime. Authorities believe the two are responsible for several home invasion robberies in the area, but the 16-year-old as well as his father maintain the teen is innocent.
Lake Jackson Police Chief Rick Park said all of the evidence at this point indicates the contractor acted in self-defense and had a message for those who may be involved in similar crimes.
“Any time that you display a weapon, whether you’re licensed or not,” Chief Park said, “you should be aware that you may not be the only one with one.”
The post Armed contractor stops teen robbers at home where he is working appeared first on Guns.com.