Santa Rosa County, Florida

From Pensacola’s WEARtv.com of September 7, 2005
(No permalink)

Tiger Point Home Invasion

A Santa Rosa county teenager is dead after he allegedly broke into his neighbor's home, early this morning.

The high school student was shot and killed by the homeowner.

The homeowner was also treated at the hospital for an injury to his hand...

Santa Rosa sheriff's deputies say he and his wife are upset by the incident.

The owners of a home on Tibet drive in Tiger Point called for help around three, this morning...when they heard their back door open.

An officer arrived, looked around, but left after finding no signs of forced entry.

That's when the homeowner discovered someone hiding in his closet.

The two struggled.

The homeowner was armed and he shot the suspect, also injuring his own hand.

Deputies say the suspect died at the scene.

He turned out to be the homeowner's 17-year-old neighbor.

It's up to the state attorney's to decide if charges will be filed.

The names of the people involved have not yet been released, but the sheriff's office say the teenager was known to law enforcement.

The homeowner was treated at the hospital for what appears to be a gun shot injury to his hand.

From the Pensacola News-Journal of December 14, 2005

Homeowner not charged in shooting

Teen was hiding in house

Criminal charges will not be filed against a Gulf Breeze man who shot and killed a teenager found hiding in a spare bedroom closet in the man's house.

Eduard Richardson, 17, a Gulf Breeze High School senior, died at the scene.

The incident occurred early Sept. 7 in Allen Ambrose's house, in the 3400 block of Tibet Drive in the Tiger Point subdivision, just down the road from Tiger Point Golf and Country Club.

Richardson resided next door to Ambrose.

Ambrose, 63, was injured in the incident.

Assistant State Attorney Harmon Massey said Tuesday he has reviewed the case, and it does not warrant criminal prosecution.

"It's an unfortunate taking of someone else's life but justifiable under the circumstances," Massey said.

State law permits the use of deadly force against a person who has illegally entered a home and poses a reasonable threat of death or great bodily harm, Massey said.

Ambrose said he appreciated the work done by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office and the state attorney's office, but declined further comment.

The incident began with a call to the Sheriff's Office about a door sensor beeping in the Ambrose residence, an open door in the house and Ambrose possibly seeing someone in the back yard running away from the house.

Sheriff's Sgt. Mark James arrived about 3 a.m., checked the house and found no sign of forced entry, according to an offense report.

James had left to patrol the neighborhood when he got a call moments later to return to Ambrose's home because the homeowner found someone crouching in a bedroom closet and Ambrose was holding him at gunpoint.

Ambrose didn't know the intruder, Massey said.

As Ambrose's wife, Bonnie, opened the front door to meet the returning deputy, Richardson began struggling with Ambrose, the prosecutor said. During the scuffle, Ambrose's .357-caliber revolver fired twice.

Ambrose was shot in the left hand, and Richardson was shot between the shoulder blades.

Richardson had no previous criminal history, Massey said.

The offense report classified the incident as a burglary. Richardson had some of Ambrose's personal property in his possession, including a wristwatch, Massey said.