Some residents in the typically quiet Berkeley Place neighborhood woke up to gunfire, others woke up to chaos after the confrontation.
“The helicopter was flying overhead and kind of startled us awake,” says Tom Christ, who’s staying with his parents just a few houses down from the shooting.
Police say around 4:45 a.m., the alarm system went off at 2030 Hawthorne Avenue house, alerting him someone was trying to break in to his detached garage.
“I believe in alarms. It’s great. It's the way to protect your home and family,” says Christ.
Officers say the homeowner grabbed his gun, went outside and confronted the suspected burglar, demanding he stop, but he didn't. The homeowner insists to investigators he feared for his life, and fired off several rounds -- hitting the alleged burglar twice.
The homeowner's wife called 911.
Responding officers followed a blood trail and found the man in the alley a couple houses down. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital where he’s recovering.
Now, it's up to detectives to determine if this shooting is justified. Some believe he did the right thing.
“It’s his house, his property. If someone's there, he has every right to protect himself and his family,” says Christ.
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Neighbors say this isn't the first time burglars have recently targeted this area or this homeowner. They wish the shooting never happened but say maybe it'll send a message.
“They kind of border on not as nice neighborhoods. I guess people come here and think they can find something of value to steal. Not such a bad thing, maybe it'll keep them away next time,” Christ said.
Right now, police are not naming the homeowner or the suspected burglar, or saying who could be facing charges.
