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.
Where do you find this stuff?
No, you're not.
I subscribe to a data base that gives me criminal and driver info. The key in finding the right person is age or geographic area. There was quite a few robert hinojosa's, only two the same age but only one with criminal history. Doing a driver check, this guy happens to live in that area, simple deduction but not always a 100% accurate but it was in this case. Interesting that the old man does not hold a DL under the name given.
Where do you subscribe and how much does it cost?
Grand Jury? The guy should get a medal!
There's no such thing as privacy anymore. After you sign up for the criminal database, try Accurint too.
www.accurint.com
Publicdata.com is the name of the site. It covers Texas real well and a few other states but leaves alot to be desired on other states. Cost is $25 a year for 250 inquiries I believe.When the Texas seven wen't on a rampage I was able to produce all of their complete rap sheets. Another thing I like is under the driver section it also tells you other members living in household and close neighbors. You can then use that info along with the tax records as to who owns the property. Lots of neat stuff you can do. There are other data bases out there with a whole lot more info but cost much more but if willing to pay you can get any info you want.
Ping
And I'm sure they'd have a shot at collecting if they lived in a Blue state.
Being this is Texas, I doubt they'll get anything.
Common sense does still exist in various pockets in this world.
The right to shoot a home invader in Texas is not unlimited. The Penal Code (S 9.22)allows it if the "actor"(in this case the old man) reasonably believes the conduct is necessary to avoid imminent harm. In fact the old guy did ( or said he did) exactly the right thing shouting two warnings and then plugged the perp with only one shot. Chances of an inditement in this case are zero.
SWo if he'd been imprisoned for any of those crimes, he'd still be in prison today, and he'd still be alive?
I guess there's something to be said for probation after all!
Would you say the same thing if the old man was found dead?
bump in the night
I'm not quite there yet, but 85 is looking younger every day--LOL!
Ping!
It's weirder than that! I did not write that post #54 from basil to basil. I never saw it before, and have no idea what it's about!
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