Spokane County — At about 11:55 pm, Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies and Airway Heights police officers were dispatched to a reported burglary at the 2600 block of North Colville Road.
According to reports, the homeowner and his wife were upstairs watching television and had just turned it off when a disturbance was heard downstairs. The husband thought he might have a break-in on his hands, grabbed his shotgun, and went down to investigate.
The homeowner made it to the kitchen where he encountered 29 year old Kenneth B. Caldero using the microwave. The homeowner asked Caldero what he was doing, to which he replied “doing your dishes.”
The homeowner told Caldero to leave, but instead started to go upstairs. The homeowner then yelled to the suspected burglar to stop or he’d fire, which brought on an apparent struggle between the two men.
The struggle caused the homeowner to fire a shot into the ground. Caldero paused, took a step back, and advanced again.
The homeowner strengthened his resolve, some, and fired a second round — this time into Caldero’s leg sending him scampering away and yelling for help.
Police arrived on scene, found Caldero, administered first aid to his bleeding self, and brought him to the hospital where he’s healing from his non-life threatening injuries.
After questioning, Caldero told the authorities that he thought he was in a friend’s house and was trying to do the dishes. After further questioning to find out who the friend was, police found out that the “friend” was in prison and that it was a lie.
Caldero is still currently hospitalized as of this writing and is facing first degree burglary charges when he’s well enough to leave the hospital.
The homeowner is not looking at any charges, as this was an act of self-defense.
Analysis:
Contrary to popular belief, the sound or even sight of a shotgun isn’t enough to send a burglar running. And, in fact, as we see here, it can do quite the opposite. In this case, the racking of the pump wasn’t even in question — as the homeowner fired what seems like a warning shot into the ground.
The warning shot caused the attempted burglar to pause, realize that the homeowner didn’t WANT to shoot him and take another chance. When you’re dealing with a bad guy and fire a warning shot, all you’re essentially doing is wasting ammunition.
A pump shotgun doesn’t hold much ammo as it is, and to waste a round into the ground when there could have been another bad guy waiting for an opportunity may potentially just screw you over later when you’re forced to use your shotgun as a club.
Thankfully the homeowner was able to chamber another round and get a shot on target. Even though it was a shot to the leg with birdshot it seemed to do the trick.
Still, a shot to the leg isn’t the best, either.
At this point you have to be wondering at what state of mind was this man in? He, who claimed to be doing the dishes after a break in … Was he crazy? On drugs? Even able to feel pain?
A shot into the ground should have sent someone running, but it only phased Caldero for a second, just long enough to decide he wasn’t leaving until the dishes were done, man.
Here’s a thought, if you ever experience a break-in and the guy tells you he’s there to do your dishes, there is probably a screw loose somewhere and you should proceed with extreme caution.
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