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‘They came to a gunfight with a pocketknife’: Retired plumber, 93, shoots and critically wounds a burglar after becoming enraged by slow police response at his California home
- Retired plumber Joe Howard Teague was forced to use his shotgun on intruder
- LA resident tried to make citizen’s arrest and warned robbers he had a gun
- But they kept approaching the 93-year-old, with one wielding a fishing pole
- He said: ‘It was just like somebody comes to a gunfight with a pocketknife’
A 93-year-old man shot and critically injured a would-be burglar after a gang tried to break into his Los Angeles area home Wednesday.
Retired plumber Joe Howard Teague repeatedly warned the attempted robbers that he had a gun, but they continued to approach and throw things at him.
Teague told reporters outside his Moreno Valley home yesterday: ‘I approached them to put them under citizen’s arrest.
‘They wouldn’t adhere to that and then one of them came at me with a fishing pole.
‘It was just like somebody comes to a gunfight with a pocketknife, you know’, ABC reported.
One kicked his door in and entered his home, prompting Teague to call 911 around 12.30pm. He tried to hold them at gunpoint while waiting for police to arrive.
When Riverside County cops showed up, attempted burglar Joseph Ortega, 33, was shot.
Senior Joe Teague, 93, said: ‘It was just like somebody comes to a gunfight with a pocketknife’
The Los Angeles area homeowner fended off the gang of would-be burglars using a shotgun
By the time cops showed up at Teague’s home (pictured) Wednesday, one burglar was killed
Teague was taken in by police and questioned before being let go.
Because of the suspect’s critical condition, the Central Homicide Unit took the case.
Sheriff’s department officials said the shooting appeared to be justified, but added that the investigation is ongoing.
No other arrests have been announced, with the rest of the gang getting away.
Police said they will continue to investigate the potential homicide in Moreno Valley, California
But in-law Oscar Malma said: ‘I don’t think there would be any reason for him to be arrested’
Teague’s in-law Oscar Malma said Teague is often targeted by burglars – and the police response is less than rapid.
He told KABC Los Angeles: ‘He took the law into his own hands.
‘He was tired because every time he calls the police, the police were taking forever to come and assist him.
‘And now this happened in the middle of the night.
‘He was defending his property. That happened inside of his home. So, I don’t think there would be any reason for him to be arrested.’
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