A California man who defended his neighborhood from burglars could face charges after shooting one of the culprits in the head.
After witnessing the group of thieves break into a house in his Alta Vista neighborhood and then return to the area an hour later, 57-year-old James Monroe instructed his wife to call police, grabbed his gun and went outside to confront the situation, as the local Fox News affiliate reported.
He jumped out of the way of the thieves’ vehicle as they speed away and then fired two shots at the car, hitting the male front passenger in the head. The man is expected to be fine and the two females in the vehicle were not harmed. Both women had outstanding warrants and were arrested.
But Monroe was also arrested, and may face criminal charges for his actions.
One neighbor said it was “not right” for Monroe to face charges, but San Diego Police Department Lt. Kevin Mayer was more critical of the situation.
“As with any level of force, especially deadly force, your actions are going to be critiqued,” he told the TV station.
He said the Police Department is investigating the situation and advised that “taking action such as this is not always the best solution.”
“When you see something occurring make sure you call us first,” he added.
It’s the second time this week that an individual may face charges for using a gun to fight off criminals.
