For the second time this week, a gun owner is under investigation for shooting at a criminal who unlawfully invaded his property.
Tony DiSanto, 84, known simply as Mr. Tony, discovered a would-be robber stuffing stolen items into a Volkswagen parked in his driveway in Bradenton, Fla. After retrieving his firearm, Mr. Tony reportedly issued several warnings to the robber.
According to witnesses, the robber then rammed his car into a fence and into DiSanto's vehicle in a bid to escape. When the criminal refused to listen to his multiple warnings, he shot at the vehicle multiple times.
One of the rounds missed its target and hit an SUV across the street, WFTS-TV reports. Police are still looking for the robbery suspect, who escaped by riding across a next-door lawn and backing all the way down the street.
DiSanto is cooperating with police, however, Dave Bristow, a spokesman with the Manatee Sheriff's Office, said the case is under investigation and will likely be turned over to the State Attorney's Office to determine if the man broke the law.
"We're still investigating the case," Bristow told WFTS-TV. "But he apparently fired shots while the vehicle was fleeing, so that's questionable, and so, yes, the investigation continues and we'll probably end up sending it to the State Attorney's Office."
DiSanto's neighbors on the other hand feel he did the right thing to protect himself and his property.
"Nobody was afraid of Mr. Tony," one neighbor said. "We were afraid of the criminal."
TheBlaze reported on Monday that police in Ontario, Calif., are investigating another home invasion as a homicide after a resident shot a drunk intruder who attacked his son.
“The homeowner, the citizen, has to be able to articulate or apply the appropriate amount of force that was done against them,” Ontario Police Sgt. David McBride said. Police also pointed out that the intruder was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
The case will be turned over to the district attorney, who will determine if the shooting was justified.
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