Saturday, December 15, 2007

Tennessee: Man shoots and kills fleeing burglar

Knoxville, Tennessee

From the Knoxville News Sentinel of December 16, 2007
Man shoots and kills fleeing burglar

A Powell man coming to his grandson's rescue shot and killed a fleeing burglar Saturday, authorities said.

Tilvis Coffey, 42, of Knoxville died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, Knox County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Martha Dooley said. His record shows an "extensive" criminal history, including arrests for theft, aggravated burglary and probation violation, she said.

Officers haven't filed any charges against Harry Smith, 58. Smith, who has a gun permit, shot Coffey once in the head with a revolver as Coffey ran from the house at 103 Copeland Road, Dooley said.

Coffey didn't have a weapon at the time, she said.

Coffey showed up at the house just after noon while Smith's 14-year-old grandson was there alone, Dooley said.

"A man came to the door he didn't know," she said. "He called his mother, who told him to hide in the closet."

Coffey kicked in two doors and made his way inside, Dooley said. The boy called 911 from the closet. Meanwhile, his mother called Smith, her father. Smith, who lives nearby, headed to the house and confronted Coffey inside, Dooley said.

Coffey ran out just as the boy's grandmother stepped out of her car, Dooley said.

"Smith told the man to stop or he'd shoot," Dooley said.

She said she didn't know how far away Coffey was when Smith fired.

The boy and his grandmother weren't hurt, Dooley said. Their names weren't available Saturday night, and Smith couldn't be reached.

Further links:
Knox Co. man kills intruder at daughter’s home

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