Gary, Indiana

From the Merrillville Post-Tribune of October 13, 2005

Man says he fired gun after thieves shot first

An east side man told police would-be thieves breaking into his van fired at him when he confronted them, so he shot back, wounding a 16-year-old suspect.

The teen, struck in the leg and wrist, was admitted to the Methodist Hospitals in Merrillville, where he is being held under police guard.

Gary juvenile division supervisor Lt. Charles Austin is investigating the break-in that led to the shooting. None of the other suspects allegedly involved were arrested at the scene.

The teen could be charged as an adult if police can provide evidence he was armed while committing other crimes. Members of the Homicide Squad are investigating the shooting incident, Cmdr. Michael Nardini said.

“We’ve got CSI (Crime Scene Investigations) back out there today gathering evidence to see if it matches what the homeowner is saying,” Nardini said.

David Thedford, 55, told Patrolman Nicholas Ferrell his neighbor called him about 2 a.m. and said five suspects were trying to get into his van, parked in the 700 block of Georgia Street.

Thedford, an employee with Numark Security, went outside and ordered the young men to stop.

“He heard three shots,” the report states, and Thedford shot back with his .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol, the report states.

When police arrived, they found the wounded teen lying on the ground near Thedford’s white 1989 GMC Safari van.

Nearby were Thedford’s tackle box, fishing net and rod and reel, which had been removed from the vehicle, police said. The van and a 1993 Ford Explorer were damaged by gunfire, police said.