HPD officer shoots alleged burglar breaking into his home.

[ScreamingMeemie]

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8181632

snip-

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives are investigating a shooting involving an off-duty Houston police officer at his home in south Harris County.
-snip

Snip-

Authorities say Houston Police Department Lieutenant Donald Hamilton, 53, was getting ready for his night shift at work when he heard pounding on the front door. The officer ignored the knock but then heard the back window break.

Hamilton then came downstairs with his gun and saw three of possibly six male suspects inside. The suspects began running so the officer began firing. He shot on of the suspects, handcuffed him and dragged him outside.

snip-

Hamilton worked in the southeast patrol division and has been on the job for 28 years.

-snip


***The suspects were not armed.

[TheWraith]

1. With three to six guys, does it matter if they were armed?

If the homeowner weren't, he'd have been in for a really bad day.

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. I just added that because the original story does not mention it.

:shrug:

He had a right. What blows my mind is that this happened in broad daylight.

[TheWraith]

3. Daylight is actually the best time for burglars.

People are likely to be away at work. Burglarizing a house while the inhabitants are there, called "hot" burglary," is notoriously risky, at least here in the US. Burglars who do that are at a much greater risk for getting 1) caught, 2) shot, 3) both.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Not when the homeowner is an off duty cop.

It's happened quite often here in Houston. Not burglarizing the home of an off duty cop, but being caught in the act in broad daylight.

[TheWraith]

17. Yeah, these guys failed the victim selection process.

Burglary tends to be the first choice of a criminal seeking a quick payoff, so it attracts a lot of candidates who are not criminal masterminds.

[flvegan]

5. "The suspects began running so the officer began firing." I didn't see that

from the article. Makes it sound like the alleged crims started to run away but the cop gunned them down, at least to me.

"According to the Harris County Sheriff's Office, Hamilton was inside his home getting ready for work when he heard a knock at the front door. He didn't answer, only watched. Soon there was a knock at the back door, the sound of shattering glass and at least two young men inside. That's when he fired striking both; one was more seriously wounded."

I didn't see unarmed men running away being shot. I might not have read the entire story, I suppose.

[ergot]

6. Anybody who broke into my house to commit crimes is dead meat.

I've read posts here for a while and I know some people will defend the criminals but if more people would properly defend their own domicile when thugs break in, fewer thugs would break in.

[flvegan]

7. I think you misread my post.

But, if one is the kind to shoot someone in the back as they ran away, then so be it. That's not defending a domicile, that's vengeance.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. The story has been updated in the last 10-ish minutes.

As reported on the news, it sounded like a front door/back door ambush.

[flvegan]

10. Then the crims made a poor choice.

I didn't see the update, just commented on the initial media report. If the crims were advancing to do harm, then I applaud the homeowner/officer, except in that he sent them to the ER and not the morgue.

[Newest Reality]

9. Was the officer

married or did he have a girlfriend?

I mean, we have not ruled-out the potential sexual proclivities of his significant other that he may have mistaken for a home invasion.

[flvegan]

11. Wow, really?

[LadyHawkAZ]

12. O.o

I hope you just forgot to put the sarcasm tag on?

[Newest Reality]

14. Oh, gee,

did I really need the tag?

But, you never know. ;)

[LadyHawkAZ]

16. No, you never do anymore

I've had to stop assuming. :)

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. Are you being a weenie?

[Newest Reality]

15. Foot long!

I am such a dog!

[Renew Deal]

18. These things happen when you break into someones house

[Codeine]

19. Occupational hazard for the burglary set. nt