AZ - Peoria homeowner confronts and shoots burglar in shoulder

http://www.abc15.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=97af2ccb-25ed-49ac-bf15-de02c980e4ca

Peoria homeowner confronts and shoots burglar in shoulder

3/20/2008

A Peoria homeowner shot a burglary suspect inside his home early Thursday

morning, according to police.

The 62-year-old homeowner, John Kallas, said he saw a suspicious person

outside one of his windows and heard him get in through the back door.

When the burglar got inside the home near 83rd Avenue and Cactus, police

said he started to move toward Kallas who had gotten his gun.

"He seemed to do everything right," said Peoria Police Spokesperson Mike

Tellef. "He told the man to stop a couple times and when he didn't, he

(Kallas) defended himself."

The burglar was shot in the upper chest. Police say the injury is not life

threatening.

Its the second time this week that a would-be criminal has been shot during

a robbery or burglary attempt.

On Tuesday, a salon owner near 25th Street and Indian School Road in Phoenix

shot a robber twice during a hold up.

That robber was seriously injured.

Gun law expert and author Alan Korwin says the legal trends favor homeowners

and business owners in these situations, but it has to be clear that your

life is being threatened.

"Chasing someone and shooting them is not self defense," he said.

Arizona recently passed the Castle Doctrine, which presumes homeowners are

being threatened when someone breaks into their home.

"That doesn't mean it's ok to shoot some drunk kid who might have accidently

entered your home," Korwin explained.

He also said if you shoot someone who is running away, the law will likely

not back you up.

"If you are not clearly being threatened then don't shoot," he said. "If you

are, then don't miss."

Both the above shootings are under investigation.

For more information about gun laws and your rights try visiting gunlaws.com