Posted on 04/10/2012 6:16:50 AM PDT by marktwain
DALLAS — Two teenagers are in custody and a third is dead after an attempted break-in in southeast Dallas on Monday morning.
Police said the suspects were betting on entering an empty house — not facing an armed homeowner.
Investigators said the three young people rang the front doorbell of Lee Cobler's home in the 7300 block of Vallejo Drive. When no one answered, they went around the back and started trying to kick the door in.
But Cobler, 51, was at home with an adult son. The son was on the phone with 911 when police said Cobler opened fire on the intruders, killing 14-year-old Luis Avila, a student at Hood Middle School.
"He was able to make the right choice to protect his child," said Shirley Starks, president of the local homeowners' association. "It was important, because he did not know that those — whoever was coming through that door — was not going to kill all of them."
Investigators are not saying that the teenagers were armed, but police were at Hood Middle School Monday afternoon interviewing students and offering counseling.
Principal C.A. Williams sent out a letter to parents explaining that one of their students was killed in a burglary attempt. "Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with the family and close friends of the student who is no longer with us," she wrote.
News 8 captured a video showing what's believed to be one of the teenage suspects being arrested just a few blocks away from the shooting scene.
"It's surprising like to see like kids — 13-year-old kids — like breaking in nowadays," added Sarah Trevino, who was watching what happened.
Residents in the Piedmont neighborhood have been on high alert after four burglaries in recent months, and Crime Watch officials said it was just a matter of time until something ended in a tragedy like this.
"This can happen to any child that is doing something like this," Starks said. "Why weren't the parents watching him to make sure that he wasn't doing something like this, is my question."
Police have the two other suspects in custody, ages 13 and 14. They have been charged with attempted burglary.
Police spokesman Sgt. Warren Mitchell said no charges have been filed against Cobler, but a grand jury will review the circumstances of the fatal shooting.
E-mail ccivale@wfaa.com
One of them got shot. Aren't they on the hook for that as well?
If this kid’s parents had taught him right and wrong and respect for the property of others, he wouldn’t be dead.
You are 100% correct. The Good Lord doesn’t say “Well, you lost 2 years worth of hard work, because someone stole some of your possessions, so I’ll just extend your life those 2 years”. You lose a part of your life, your possessions and the ability to feel secure in your own home.
The world was made better by a factor of 1, too bad the parent’s were such dismal failures in not being able to teach their kid right, from wrong. I’m willing to be a meal at a fine dining establishment that the parents noticed that their child was brining home some new stuff that he ‘found’, and they didn’t do anything about it. New bike, skateboard, clothes, games - I see it all of the time. A kid steals, and his parents defend the child; thus encouraging him to steal more.
One less thief to worry about.
I don’t know the race of the shooter or the perps, but I saw an interesting statistic on the “stand your ground” law. Apparently the number of blacks shot by whites is up significantly since the law was passed. And those shootings were considered self defense.
He was just looking for some Skittles and Iced Tea..................
Perhaps “Hood” Middle School should consider changing its curriculum, or at least warn their prize students of the dramatic increase in arms sales across America since their fearless leader took office.
The name of the school seems appropriate enough.....
‘Hood’ Middle School .....
—One of them got shot. Aren’t they on the hook for that as well?—
Exactly my thoughts when watching the video.
Like what like shade of skin like were those of the “kids?”
Like just curious.
(Sorry folks. I just couldn’t hep’ myself. Saludos.)
Lol its innocent enough. I went to Hill jr high and they were big competitors with Hood in sports. Just the last names of dead guys.
Ah, a fan of Bistiat's "The Law"?
Exodus 2: 22 : If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
Shouldn’t La Raza be trotting out a baby picture of the innocent deceased “child” to show how evil the homeowner is?
Innocent but ironic ....
Anyone that says the world is better because a 14 year old kid is dead has no clue who the Good Lord is.
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