NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) - Police are investigating after a homeowner shot and wounded a man who was trying to break into his home in Northwest Miami-Dade.
Miami-Dade Police responded to the home located at 142nd Street and Northwest Second Avenue, sometime around 5 a.m., Tuesday.
According to officials, the intruder drove to the home, parked his car and tried to force his way in. That’s when police said the homeowner heard the commotion, grabbed his gun and shot the subject in the chest.
“You don’t know what they’re going to do to you,” said neighbor Kyle Melkonian. “It’s very concerning.”
Melkonian said he heard a man moaning after the gunfire. “It was either one shot or two shots,” he said. “Then, I heard a man moaning or crying — something like that.”
The subject has not yet been identified. However, police said he is 22 years old. He was transported to Jackson Ryder Trauma Center, where he was last listed in critical condition.
The family and neighbors have reportedly expressed their fear of home invasions in the past. “I’ve had, on two different occasions, people basically try to force their way into my home,” said Melkonian.
The homeowner’s wife and two children, ages 5 and 9 were inside the home at the time of the shooting, according to officials.
The family’s attorney, Michael Grieco, said the family remains emotionally shaken by the attempted home intrusion. “The children are no longer home,” said Grieco. “We’ve had them with other family members. Somebody tries to break into your house, couple gunshots go off — everybody’s a little shaken. As the hours go on, hopefully they feel a little better.”
Grieco said the family didn’t know the intruder.
No injuries to the family were reported.
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