Police: Homeowner shoots teen intruder

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Beach police say a homeowner in College Park shot a juvenile intruder he caught sneaking into his home. 

"This street is quiet," neighbor Louise Sibly said. "It's a very quiet circle."

But on Dec. 29, there was a whole lot of chaos on Bucknell Circle.

"There was a butt load of police cars," Sibly added. "I mean a butt load. There was like forensics. There was everybody."

"When you see that, my first reaction is I hope my neighbors are ok," neighbor Karen Tucker said. "I hope no one was hurt"

Virginia Beach police say the teenager broke into a home, but what he didn't know was the resident was home. And the homeowner was packing heat.

According to Virginia Beach Master Police Officer Tonya Borman, the homeowner heard glass break around 12:30 p.m. When he went to investigate the noise, he found the intruder going up the stairs to the second floor.

"Apparently, the owner of the house got the best of him and put him in the hospital," Tucker said.

Police say the teenager ran off after he was shot in the leg. He was found a couple blocks over on Duquesne Place.

"If I would have been in my house and they did that, I would have shot him," Sibly added. "Lord forgive me, but I would have."

Sibly knows what it feels like to be a victim. Her home was broken into and her jewelry taken in Oct.

"I'm really afraid to leave the house," Sibly said. "I don't know who it. You don't know if it's the person who lives down the street. You don't know if it's the next door neighbor. You just don't know, because you didn't see them."

Neighbors hope the teen learned a lesson and hope anyone else who is thinking of breaking into a home takes note.

"Thank God the guy was not killed," Tucker added. "He was hurt enough to be caught and that's all you want, justice in the end."

Medics were called and the accused intruder was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries and then later released.

The juvenile suspect was charged with one count each of breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony and destruction of property. He was transported to the Virginia Beach Juvenile Detention Center where is is being held pending a court hearing.

The case remains under investigation.