Clearwater, Florida

From TampaBays10.com of January 8, 2007

Burglar, 16, shot during burglary

A 16-year-old Clearwater youth was shot at least once after he broke into a north Clearwater home Sunday night. The teen - whose identity has not yet been established, was shot by a man who lives in the house which was being burglarized.

According to Clearwater Police Department Criminal Investigations Detectives, the juvenile and another burglar forced their way into a home at 1186 Palmetto Street at 9:30 Sunday night, and one of the burglars fired at least two shots inside the house, hitting no one.

But a resident of the home, 35-year-old Robert Cason, retrieved a handgun from inside the residence and returned fire.

The two burglars ran from the home, and a short time later, Clearwater Police Patrol Officers found a 16-year-old in the area, wounded in the abdomen.

The youth was treated at the scene by Clearwater Fire Department paramedics before being flown to Bayfront Medical Center Hospital's trauma center. His injuries are said to not be life-threatening.

Police are searching for the second burglar; the investigation continues.