Who's there?
Armed robbers.
Boom!
Posted on 09/07/2006 12:05:46 PM PDT by kiriath_jearim
One teen killed in failed robbery attempt
Police say resident opened door, saw 16-year-old with shotgun
By SCOTT SMITH Tribune staff writer
A Kokomo teen is dead, and two other juveniles face serious charges after an apparent robbery gone bad on the city’s south side early Tuesday morning.
Detectives said Nathan Marcus Paul Smith, 16, and Justin Smith, 17, Peru, were armed with a shotgun and a baseball bat, respectively, when they knocked on the door of 19 Southdowns Drive at about 12:30 a.m.
The man inside the home, Michael Slonaker, 61, came to the door armed with a handgun.
Slonaker told police the juvenile holding the shotgun raised it when he opened the door. Slonaker then fired two shots, hitting both juveniles.
Nathan Smith, a sophomore at Kokomo High School, was shot in the chest and stumbled out to the street before collapsing, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Howard County Coroner Brad Bray.
Justin Smith initially fled from the scene, but was later found at Howard Regional Health System with a gunshot wound to the knee, the detective said.
According to detectives, Justin Smith told hospital staff he had been shot and wounded on East Taylor Street in Kokomo while attempting to buy drugs. He later admitted his involvement in the shooting incident to investigators.
“We don’t believe that Nathan Smith and Justin Smith are related. It appears that they were just friends,” said Sheriff Marty Talbert. Slonaker told investigators that he was not familiar with either man.
“Slonaker is licensed to carry a firearm,” Talbert continued. “However a permit is not required to possess a handgun in your own home, or on your own property.”
A 17-year-old female who drove Justin Smith to the emergency room was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary. She was transported to the Kinsey Youth Center, where she is being held on the class B felony charge.
Justin Smith was transferred to Indianapolis Methodist Hospital by Life Line Helicopter. He was scheduled to undergo surgery for his gunshot wound Tuesday. Nathan Smith’s body is scheduled to undergo an autopsy on Wednesday at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie.
Ironically, Nathan Smith was on probation with the Howard County Juvenile Probation department, but had not reported as required, according to department head Don Travis.
Nathan Smith’s probation officer, along with Smith’s mother, were out looking for him Tuesday morning, unaware he’d been killed, Travis said.
Travis, who was contacted outside the office Tuesday, said he wasn’t immediately aware of the reason for Smith’s probationary status.
The case is still under investigation, but Talbert said from initial reports, it didn’t appear likely Slonaker would face charges.
“The weapons [used by the assailants] were found lying on the ground outside the house, just like Mr. Slonaker indicated,” Talbert said. “That indicates he was put in fear for his life. Certainly if an individual showed up at my door with a shotgun, I’d protect myself.”
“We are asking anyone with information about this case to contact myself, or Detective Scott Waymire, at our investigations section, (765) 456-2031, Ext. 247,” said Detective Greg Hargrove.
Howard County Sheriff deputies were assisted at the scene by the Russiaville Police Department, Harrison Township Fire Department and EMS, and the Howard County Emergency Management Agency. The Kokomo Police Department is also assisting with the investigation.
No, bad would be if Mr. Slonaker got killed. I think this ended rather well.
I should hope not! I bet there won't be many more little bastards knocking on his door in the middle of the night with shotguns and baseball bats.
The homeowner needs a bit of range time. The surviving perp shouldn't be surviving.
AAAAANNNNDDDDD another one bites the dust, another one bites the dust YAAYYAAAA and another ones gone and another ones gone, another one bites the dust!!
Another one bites the dust.
Good.
Saving the gov't a bundle in lifetime court and incarceration costs...
I don't believe irony enters into this picture. There is nothing ironic about a career criminal dying in the act of committing a crime and not having checked in with his probation officer. This is what they do.
So I guess it would have been a robbery gone good had the evil homeowner not been ready, willing and able to defend himself.
Not as well as it could have. Think of all the free medical care the wounded perp is receiving.
Bad being defined as poor little Justin being shot in the knee instead of a lung, heart, aorta or somewhere similar.
I'm all for the homeowner, but who answers their front door armed and ready to shoot? I would have at least looked out the window before answering with a "bang".
Wow, so many layers to this story - why didn't the moron tell the police someone tried to rob him? I mean please, if you are going to lie at least tell a lie that doesn't replace the commission of one type of crime with a different type of crime. Shoot for innocent (no pun intended) - go big or stay home.
We should make the homeowner read the book "Good to Great."
Knock, Knock..
Who's there?
Just two retarts robbing someone at 12:30 in the morning at his house.
Hold on a minute, I have to get the state mandated trigger locks off and make sure I have no where else to retreat.
OK, we'll wait
BANG, Bang.......One less people to end up in jail for a bigger crime later
This adds to the statistics of "Children/Gun Deaths"...
Of course, both of these *poor little dears* will be included as "child victims of gun violence" in the gun-grabbers statistical literature.
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