Texas: Homeowner's one shot lands would-be burglar in ER

Hawkins, Texas

From KLTV of October 19, 2009

Homeowner's one shot lands would-be burglar in ER

It took one shot for an East Texas senior to put an end to a would-be robber's crime spree. The story began around 2am Monday morning at Southside Bank in Hawkins. The branch is located inside Brookshire's, right off Highway 14. That is where police say 19-year-old David McWhorter was spotted, first. We spoke to the homeowner whose one shot landed the alleged burglar in the ER.

"Just...put the gun up to the window, and he was standing there and I pulled the trigger," said the 78-year-old homeowner.

One shot through the window was all it took. Our homeowner didn't mind an on camera interview, but asked his name not be released. He suffers from a hip injury and was sitting in his chair when the suspect broke into his screened porch. He says it is not the first time he has been broken into. Every window is now nailed shut and a baggie full of ammo for his 4-10 single-shot shotgun is always nearby.

"Everything I worked hard for all my life...no one's just going to come in here and take it if I can help it," said the homeowner.

"If you can't retreat, you have every right in the world to protect yourself," said Hawkins Police Lieutenant A.J. Randell.

Randell says while police worked the call at Brookshire's, another call came in about the break-in about a block away. Police say the suspect was found across the street, inside his brother's car with a gun shot wound to the left shoulder.

"He came in, woke him up and said, 'I'd been shot! Take me to the hospital,'" said Randell.

"I'm sorry that it happened, but he shouldn't be trying to break in and trying to steal other people's property," said the 78-year-old. "Protect what's mine, you know?"

And, after 23 years of retired life, our homeowner doesn't plan on moving anytime soon.