A 79-year-old Center Point, Ala., man was sleeping early Wednesday morning when he heard a crash in the basement. When he opened the door to the stairs, he saw two men had broken in—and were heading up toward him. Fortunately, the homeowner had brought his gun.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies tell WVTM 13 that the homeowner, near-octogenarian John Croft, fired shots at the suspects as he confronted them on the stairs. One invader was hit while the other ran from the house. Croft gave chase, but the second suspect fired back, striking him.
When police arrived, they discovered Croft on the porch nursing a gunshot wound to the ankle and the other man inside, who was pronounced dead. Croft was treated and released, while the second suspect remains at large. Croft told reporters he lives by the Ten Commandments and did not want to kill, but he’s happy to be alive for his 80th birthday next month.
