The man yelled at the suspect breaking into his car, who then turned around and shot him.
A man and his wife were lying in bed watching TV in Nashville, Tennessee when they heard something suspicious in the driveway. The man rolled over to peek out the window and saw a stranger fiddling with his car’s door handles.
Through the window, he confronted the would-be car burglar. Shortly afterward, the man opened fire toward the house and through the window. A stray bullet struck the vehicle owner in the hip, and the burglar ran away.
Don Aaron, a spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department, used the victim’s story as a cautionary tale to others: “Think before you act.” He said many car burglars tend to be armed, making it dangerous to confront them. Instead, people should call the police.
“It’s a classic example of persons committing property crimes may become violent,” he told WSMV. “These are generally young people, who perhaps found the guns while breaking into other vehicles.”
Giving police as many details as possible can be your best friend
Assuming they’re armed, Aaron says calling the police while the burglars don’t know you see them can be a powerful investigative tool.
“The information that you see, and perhaps when the suspects don’t know you’re watching, can be a tremendous assistance,” he said.
The man was taken to the nearest hospital, where his injuries were described as critical, but not life-threatening. He’s expected to make a full recovery.
