Misidentified Intruder Results In Grandson Shot

EAST PENNSBORO TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- A homeowner awakened early Tuesday morning by a burglar confronted the intruder and shot him, according to East Pennsboro Township police in Cumberland County. The homeowner learned later that the intruder was his 18-year-old grandson, a source told News 8.

Investigators said the shooting happened around 2:54 a.m. at a home along the first block of Victoria Way, Camp Hill, East Pennsboro Township. Police said the grandfather approached his grandson with a handgun and told him to leave. The grandson then fled into the attached garage. Police said the grandfather heard rustling and fired a single shot hitting his grandson in the hand or arm.

The grandson ran away and checked himself into Holy Spirit Hospital.

At this point, police said the shooting was justified. "(The homeowner) feared at that point, the burglar was hunkered down. He didn't know if he was taking a position to fire at the homeowner," said Lt. Mark Green.

The grandson has not yet been charged in the incident. News 8 was told that the grandfather is very upset. He did not wish to comment on the incident.

Rule Four. Go ahead. Click the link. Read it again. Identification of your target as well as identifying the target's intent is most important when you know you are shooting at a human. Getting a gun is not enough. Get training as well. Then shoot at threats, not noises. Gramps should buy a lottery ticket. He is a lucky man, in many ways.

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BY TOM BOWMAN AND FRANK COZZOLI
Of The Patriot-News
An East Pennsboro Twp. man early yesterday shot an intruder who turned out to be his 18-year-old grandson, township police said.

The intruder, whom police had not charged or named as of press time, broke into the home in the first block of Victoria Way and apparently was stealing liquor, police said. The homeowner had no idea who it was when he fired his gun, police Lt. Mark Green said. "The house was dark, and he didn't turn the lights on."

Green said Holy Spirit Hospital notified authorities about 30 minutes after the shooting that a man had checked in with a gunshot wound. The man was then taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and later was released into police custody. Police expect to file charges today, Green said.

"He's very upset," Green said about the grandfather. "You always want your family to be successful. You want the best for you kids -- and for your grandkids, you even want more."

The grandfather awoke in his second-floor bedroom to sounds coming from the living room area shortly before 3 a.m., Green said. He got his handgun, walked down the steps in the dark and saw light from a flashlight. He saw the intruder placing bottles of liquor in a bag and "told him to freeze. He told him he was under arrest. He was trying to get the guy to surrender," Green said.

The suspect did not say anything but ran into the garage and tried to hide, Green said. The homeowner, not knowing if the intruder was armed, fired one shot from a 9 mm pistol, hitting the intruder in the hand area, Green said. The suspect ran from the garage, leaving a trail of footprints and blood. The homeowner, who was not injured, did not pursue. Police followed the trail but lost it, Green said. Then hospital workers called to say they were treating a man with a gunshot wound.

"In a case like this, police are going to want to consult with us on whether the shooting was justified," Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said. "It appears to be [justified], but the investigation is ongoing."

Reporter Irvin Kittrell III contributed to this article. TOM BOWMAN: 255-8271 or tbowman@patriot-news.com FRANK COZZOLI: 255-8454 or fcozzoli@patriot-news.com