Burglary Suspect Caught, Held At Gunpoint After Break-In: Sheriff

MOORESVILLE, NC — A burglary suspect caught in the act was detained at gunpoint by a Mooresville homeowner who shot at the man’s tire as he attempted to drive at him late Friday night, according to Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell.

The incident should be seen as a warning to other would-be criminals, Campbell said.

The suspect, identified as Justin Scott Morgan, 31, was arrested by Iredell County deputies Aug. 24 after the homeowner’s wife called to report the burglary on Scottish Dive in northeast Mooresville shortly before 11 p.m., and told deputies that her husband had detained the suspect at gunpoint.

Morgan was still being held by the homeowners when deputies arrives on the scene.

According to a ICSO investigation, the homeowners, who were not named in the report, saw Morgan driving a truck from the rear of their home as they came home Friday night. Morgan then told the homeowner “he was working on the house and had gotten a job off of Craig’s List.” the sheriff’s report said.

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Morgan continued to drive his truck slowly at the homeowner, who yelled for him to stop before firing a shot into the truck’s right rear tire, the report said.

Morgan allegedly also removed additional items from the home earlier in the day. He was arrested and charged with felony breaking and entering, felony breaking and entering of a motor vehicle, felony larceny, felony safecracking, felony larceny of a firearm, felony possession of burglary tools and misdemeanor larceny of a motor vehicle. His secured bond was set at $50,000.

“The suspect in this incident is lucky we are not investigating another outcome to this case,” Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement. “This should be a warning to those who want to make victims, out of our homeowners, which could be a deadly choice for would-be criminals.”

Photo courtesy of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office