Wilmington, Delaware

From Philadelphia’s NBC10.com of March 18, 2005

Woman Shoots At Half-Naked Burglar

Police Say Suspect Wearing Red T-Shirt, Little Else

A Wilmington woman got the scare of her life when a nearly naked intruder broke into her home, but she turned the tables on the man, who quickly turned tail and ran.

According to police, Keith Simpson, 32, was wearing nothing more than a red T-shirt when he tried to break into her house Friday morning.

"Somebody was ringing my doorbell and so I yelled, 'Who is it? Who is it?' They wouldn't answer," said Cheryl Pettaway.

Pettaway grabbed her son and her gun and started to call 911.

That was when the half-naked Simpson broke through Pettaway's back door.

"The next thing you know, I just heard somebody in my house and I ran midpoint down the steps and I fired shots randomly," Pettaway said.

She fired her gun at least eight times, but missed the intruder. He tried to flee through the garage, but that is where he was caught by police.

Police said this was one of the oddest burglary cases they have seen.

"This is definitely something we don't see every day. ... Breaking in half-clothed -- that's different," said Sgt. William Wells, of the Wilmington police.

Police said Simpson was admitted to Wilmington Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and for treatment of wounds he got when he broke through a glass door.

After he is released from the hospital, he will face charges.