Ransom Canyon, Texas

From Lubbock’s KCBD.com of March 25, 2006

Intruder Sent to Hospital After Home Owners Open Fire

The quiet community of Ransom Canyon is shocked after a home invasion sends the victim and the attacker to the hospital.

Ransom Canyon Police are investigating the overnight home invasion that sent two to the hospital Saturday morning. The intruder broke into the home and stabbed a 70-year-old man, but the home owners fought back.

Police say the intruder broke into the home through a bedroom window thinking no one was home.

"We are still investigating," stated Ransom Canyon Police Chief Wayne Ralls.

Police tape and bullet holes let neighbors know that something went terribly wrong in their quiet community.

"All the other agencies, the (Lubbock County) District Attorney's Office, the (Lubbock County) Sheriff's Office, and the DPS are cooperating with us on the investigation," Ralls stated.

Just after 1am Saturday an intruder broke into the home and stabbed the sleeping male home owner. He and his wife then reached for their pistols stored beside their bed and opened fire on the man. The intruder ran from the bedroom but was chased by the wife and shot in the chest just outside of the room.

"This is the second home invasion we've had. The other one was two years ago and we had a double homicide on that," Ralls remembered.

But unlike two years ago, the husband and wife fought back.

"We normally don't have these kind of situations here. This is a very quite secluded community," neighbor Mac Davis offered.

Now neighbors, like Davis, are going to be sure to keep an eye out so a tragedy like this won't happen again.

"It's very sad to see something like this happen. But the only thing you can do is be very watchful, and take care of your own safety as best as you can. You can't live life scared," stated Davis.

The identity of the intruder is still unknown. Authorities say he is a Hispanic male between 25 and 30-years-old. As of 11pm Saturday the intruder was in ICU at UMC under police guard.

Once he makes a recovery he will be handed over to Sheriff's custody and taken to the County Jail.