Huntsville, Alabama

From the Huntsville Times of January 7, 2006

Man shoots teen intruder

Two greeted by gun after bedroom door kicked open

A 22-year-old man confined to a wheelchair shot one of two teenagers who broke into his Boxwood Court apartment Friday.

A 16-year-old boy was in surgery at Huntsville Hospital late Friday for multiple gunshot wounds to the leg, said Sgt. Michael Walker of the west precinct. Investigators say the teen will be charged with first-degree burglary upon his release from the hospital.

Walker said a 15-year-old boy also was charged with first-degree burglary and taken to the Neaves Center, a juvenile detention facility. Police did not release the name of the burglary victim. No charges will be filed against him for shooting the intruder, Walker said.

The burglary victim told officers he had just returned home from work at the University of Alabama in Huntsville about 5 p.m. The man said he was in his bedroom when he heard a noise and looked outside the window to see two people climbing through another bedroom window, Walker said.

The man called 911 just before the two teens kicked open the bedroom door, police said. When the teens kicked open the door, the man opened fire with a semi-automatic pistol, Walker said.

The 16-year-old boy was hit and the 15-year-old boy ran out the front door, he said.

Tristan Hayden, 21, was in the apartment complex office when he saw a police officer chasing one of the suspects through the courtyard.

"I looked out the door and saw an officer chasing a guy and told him to stop but he kept on running through here," Hayden said. "Then what seemed like 10 police officers showed up."

Officers caught the 15-year-old suspect on Boxwood Court, just outside the complex.