Firearms Owners Against Crime
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Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
UPDATED at noon with more from police
WEBSTER GROVES — A homeowner armed with a shotgun killed an intruder early Friday in Webster Groves, police said.
Police were called at 2:51 a.m. Friday for a "burglary in progress" in the 1400 block of Grant Road.
Lt. Andrew Miller of the Webster Groves police said the intruder died at a hospital. Miller said he was an adult and police are trying to identify him.
Miller said the man had entered the home from a back door and was confronted by the homeowner. The homeowner, whose name was not released by police, ordered the intruder to get out.
"When the suspect refused to comply with verbal commands to exit the residence, the suspect was shot by the homeowner," Miller said.
The intruder was alone, Miller said.
Police did not arrest the homeowner. Detectives remained at the home hours later and Miller said the case was still being investigated. The home is owned by a couple in their late 40s.
Miller cited the ongoing investigation Friday when he declined to answer other questions, such as if the homeowner knew the intruder.
Webster Groves has about 23,000 residents and a low crime rate. It has had 10 reports so far this year of "breaking and entering," but none before Friday on Grant Road.
In the same block of Grant Road, police took a theft report two days ago when a resident noticed fraud on a credit card. That's the only other incident in that immediate area listed on the city's recent crime log, and the two incidents are unrelated, Miller said.
Typically in Missouri, such shootings of intruders could be considered justified under the "castle doctrine," the state’s expanded self-defense law.
Under the castle doctrine, people who encounter an intruder in their homes or vehicles — or on their property, under a more recent expansion of the law — are given more leeway in using deadly force.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.