Las Vegas, Nevada



From Las Vegas’ KLAS-TV.com of August 20, 2004

Homeowner Kills Intruder Neighbor



It was a strange day on the city's southeast side Friday. A man shot and killed his neighbor after the neighbor broke into his home. It all happened around 2 a.m. near Hacienda and Pecos.



Sgt. Mike Thompson, with Metro Homicide, said, "It was a struggle -- blows between the suspect and victim."



The incident was the result of a bizarre home invasion leaving one man dead and one family traumatized. "About 1:30 this morning, both residents heard a loud crash. The homeowner armed himself with a pistol," Sgt. Thompson continued.



What's unusual was that the intruder and the victims were backyard neighbors. The strange chain of events started when the intruder -- identified by friends as George Morrelli -- started banging on a neighbor's door and then broke into his backyard neighbor's home.



But the homeowner there was armed and ready. Sgt. Thompson said, "He met the intruder and got involved with the intruder. He discharged his weapon."

…

Sgt. Thompson said, "He appears to have some type of mental illness. He apparently exhibited some strange behavior over the last few months."



The man's bizarre behavior included smashing his own satelite dish and shooting his own TV set. No one knows what made George Morrelli snap. But neighbors say he was heavily medicated and had difficulty coping with his Vietnam War experience.



It is unlikely the homeowner will face criminal charges since police say he was defending his life, his family and his home.