A masked intruder picked the wrong San Francisco home and brought a husky along for the bad decision.
A 73-year-old Vietnam War veteran shot a suspected burglar during an early-morning struggle inside his Sunset District home, according to CBS News Bay Area.
The break-in happened shortly after 5 a.m. on September 26 near 22nd Avenue and Lincoln Way, along Golden Gate Park.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the suspect walking around the area about 40 minutes before the burglary. The homeowner said the man drilled a large hole through a wooden door, reached inside and unlocked it.
“A professional burglar cut his way into my home,” the veteran told CBS.
Face-to-Face With a Masked Intruder
The homeowner was sleeping on the third floor when noises woke him. He retrieved a handgun and went downstairs to investigate.
On the second floor, he encountered a man wearing black clothing, a hoodie and a face covering. The suspected intruder had also brought what the homeowner described as a roughly 60-pound husky.
The veteran said the man grabbed him, causing him to fall onto his hands and knees.
“I shot him because I felt really threatened,” he told CBS. “He had already made this deep intrusion into my home.”
The homeowner reportedly fired one shot and believed he struck the man near the hip or buttocks. He suffered minor scrapes to his hands and knees during the confrontation.
The masked man fled, leaving bloodstained shoe prints leading toward Golden Gate Park. He also left the husky behind. San Francisco Animal Care and Control later took custody of the dog.
Police Detain Wounded Man
A short time later, officers found an injured man approximately three miles away near Geary Boulevard and 47th Avenue.
Paramedics transported him to San Francisco General Hospital with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Police detained the man while investigators worked to determine whether he was connected to the burglary.
Initial police reporting treated the burglary and the discovery of the wounded man as separate incidents because investigators had not yet established a connection. No charges against the homeowner had been announced.
The veteran withheld his name and face from the CBS report because of safety concerns. He said he remained shaken but was thankful he escaped without serious injuries.
“I had a little help from a friend,” he said, referring to his handgun.
The bizarre details will get plenty of attention. Still, the heart of the story is straightforward: an elderly homeowner reported being attacked inside his own home and used a firearm to stop the threat.
=============================================== I see that San Francisco still has some really tough men around! Grumpy
