Thursday, June 11, 2009

Indiana: Gunshot scares off intruder

Richmond, Indiana

From the Palladium Item of May 30, 2009
Gunshot scares off intruder

A Richmond woman thwarted a break-in early Friday by firing a warning shot from a gun.

"She confronted him at the door," Richmond Police Chief Kris Wolski said Friday. "She fired one shot to scare the person off."

Wolski doesn't think the incident is linked to a series of home invasions and sexual assaults of women that have plagued Richmond for about two years.

The 41-year-old female resident in the 200 block of North 21st Street heard a noise and rushed to get the semiautomatic gun, he said. Wolski said her possession and use of the gun was lawful.

Police were called to the scene at 1 a.m. The suspect was wearing a baseball cap under a hoodie, but that's about all the victim could see, Wolski said.

"Hopefully the neighbors saw something," he said. "We're doing more scene processing and getting statements."

At least eight attacks have been attributed to a man who stands about 5 feet 5 inches and strikes in the early morning hours while wearing a mask and dark hoodie.

Four more attacks are possibly linked. His female victims have ranged from a teen-ager to an 81-year-old woman.

Wolski acknowledged that the attacks are on the minds of residents, including Friday's victim.

"She was aware of the other incidents," he said. "Everyone is at a heightened level of awareness."

The police department is getting numerous calls each day with tips about potential suspects in the attacks.

"I think we are making headway," Wolski said.

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