California man ends up with a bullet in his gut after trying to steal a goat from a 79-year-old

A young man figured he might pay a visit to a San Diego County residence and leave with the elderly homeowners' goat. Instead, he left with a gunshot wound.

A 79-year-old man and his 60-year-old wife keep goats and dogs outside their home near Coronado Hills Drive in San Marcos, California.

On Monday afternoon, just before 3:30 p.m., the couple heard their animals making the kind of noises that might warrant an inspection.

According to Lieutenant Michael Arens of the San Diego County Sheriff's San Marcos Station, the couple went outside for peace of mind, but instead saw 36-year-old Alexander Belinksy attempting to abscond with one their goats.

The couple attempted to intervene, but Belinsky allegedly threw them to the ground.

The 79-year-old may have regarded goat theft to be a matter suited to remedy by bare hands, but an assault on his wife was apparently cause for a constitutionally-protected riposte.

The old-timer went inside his home and, fearing for wife's safety and his own, grabbed his rifle.

According to Arens, as the homeowner set about getting his deadly instrument, Belinsky tossed the goat into the front passenger seat of a dune buggy sitting on the property. With the creature riding shotgun, the suspect prepared to drive away.

The old man burst out of his house, readied his rifle, and once again confronted the would-be goat wrangler.

Arens indicated that Belinsky got out of the dune buggy and charged the homeowner, keen on disarming the geriatric. However, the homeowner wasn't ready to concede control over his fate and domain to some trespasser.

In the resultant struggle, the 79-year-old fired his rifle.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the bullet struck Belinsky in the stomach.

Deputies soon arrived on the scene and arrested the suspect for robbery, elder abuse, attempted vehicle theft, residential burglary, animal cruelty, and battery.

Belinsky was taken to hospital with a non-life threatening injury.

The 60-year-old woman was uninjured.

As for the 79-year-old, the cost of keeping his life, his wife, his gun, and his goat, was a few cuts on his hands.