Posted on 12/22/2004 4:25:32 AM PST by Ellesu
- HOUSTON) — A home invasion turns deadly when an elderly homeowner opens fire. The 79-year-old man says he fired his gun after he told the teenage suspect to leave.
Daniel Strelec fought in World War II and hoped he'd never have to kill again. Still, many people in his neighborhood think he had no other choice. But the veteran is rethinking his deadly decision.
For most of his life, Daniel Strelec enjoyed the home his father built. But these days it's more like a prison for the 79-year-old man. He hopes boarding up windows and doors will keep the bad guys out. "We've tried to get him to come live with us numerous times," said Janice Sebastian, the homeowner's daughter-in-law. "He refuses to leave. He's like a hermit in here."
But all that protection, police say didn't help when Robert Hinojosa, 19, ran through the yard, climbed in a window and broke into Strelec's home overnight.
Sebastian told Eyewitness News, "He sleeps with a gun under his pillow. So he got out of bed and stooped down in the corner and told him, 'Get out of my house or I'm going to shoot you.'"
Police say when the 19-year-old ignored that and a second warning, the man fired a single shot, hitting the teen in the stomach. That's when the robbery suspect bolted out the back door and ran away, collapsing in the yard not far from the home. He died on the way to the hospital.
"He just kept saying, 'Why did he have to do it? Why did he have to break in?' You know, he's just a young boy. He hasn't lived his life," Sebastian said.
Still, neighbors understand why the elderly man fired the fatal shot.
One neighbor said, "He had to protect himself, you know what I'm saying?"
"Well, he's an old man and I think he has his best protection now," said neighbor Edwin Flores. "There's nobody with him in there. It's the only way he could protect himself."
A few other young men who were thought to be hanging out with Hinojosa early Tuesday morning were taken in for questioning but not arrested. This case will now go before a grand jury. But police tell us some similar cases have been ruled as justifiable homicide.
Now how will his 'gramma' be able to go on the local news and say with a straight face....
The gunshot probably dislodged the wax in his ears.
I would imagine that when the neighborhood thugs are out looking for a site to break in, they will tend to avoid this man's house.
That's Spanish for "My home is your tomb", right?
Yes he had no choice. The HPD would have taken an hour to get around to checking out the call, by then this man would have been dead. I feel sorry for him. he was put in an awful situation. That's how brazen the crooks are now. "Go ahead call the cops, they won't do anything"
Good shooting, soldier
If this is the same guy he was on defered adjudication since he was 16 in early 2003 when arrested the first time. I wonder if time had been spent behind the first incident if it would have taught him a lesson.
No your not wrong. It will probably take the GJ 5 minutes to rule on this one.
Or the result of hollow warnings from school authorities. Life ain't school.
"Awwwwww, don't you just love a happy ending?"
Yes, I do!
This will direct your article to the Banglist page, which is for all gun, self-defense, etc., related articles..
Thanks for the post..
Why was he in the mans home.
He was not INVITED.
He had no right to break into a home.
The older gentleman has a right to protect himself.
It was HIS home not the intruders.
The gentleman is 79 years old. He has lived his life without breaking into anyone else's home. He has a right to live in his home and to be safe. Boarding everything up was not good enough. So, he did what he had to do and I support him.
People are tired of being intimidated by those who would do us harm.
All those with money like celebrities and the like have bodyguards who carry guns. You mean to tell me they wouldn't pull out their guns and shoot someone who was threatening their "clients?" Guess that's OK though...now the man questions his actions. He is punished again. Am sorry about the young boy and the man is right...he didn't get to live his life but...that I think was his choice. Had he stayed out of someone else's home uninvited and not when the man issued his second warning...he could have lived to be 79 too. It's a tragedy but...I am happy the elder gentleman can live more years with his family. Can you imagine his fear all alone not knowing what this guy was gonna do? He is innocent but obviously he has a background of character and integrity and because of that he is sad over what he had to do. He's not a killer.
God bless him.
Quite the busy little beaver. dead beaver that is.
School lunch program
This is Texas. Probably won't even be referred to the Grand Jury.
Perp was convicted in 2003 for the same thing. This old man has nothing to worry about.
A muzzle flash is a warning, isn't it? (That's all he'd get from me)
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