Dad Shoots Man Trying To Break Into Kids' Room: Pierce Co Sheriff

SPANAWAY, WA - A would-be burglar was shot and injured early Monday morning while trying to break into a Spanaway home. The burglar was trying to open a window into a room shared by a toddler and and infant - but their dad walked in and shot the burglar before he could get into the home.

The incident happened around 2:15 a.m. Monday along the 1200 block of 152nd Street East. First, a homeowner along 152nd called police at around 1:20 a.m. to report an attempted burglary at his home. About an hour later, police got a call that a homeowner had shot a burglar at a home along the same block.

"Deputies contacted the male and female homeowners, who said that they were sleeping in their house - along with their infant and toddler - when they heard noises of footsteps outside and saw an exterior motion light turn on," the sheriff's wrote on its Facebook page. "The husband told the deputies he was in fear for his family's safety; he reportedly yelled at the suspect to stop and then fired four shots at the suspect, striking him twice."

The deputies knew the suspect already. He served a month in jail for a New Year's Eve car prowl in Parkland, according to the sheriff's office. The 24-year-old will be booked on burglary charges as soon as he is released from the hospital.

Image courtesy Pierce County Sheriff's Office