Prowler killed when he pulls open car door and finds owner inside, Florida cops say

A prowler tugging at car doors in the dark was fatally shot when he picked a vehicle with the owner seated behind the wheel, according to investigators in Florida.

The victim was armed and started shooting as the two brawled in a yard, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

It happened around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, in Lehigh Acres, about a 140-mile drive southeast from Tampa.

“Upon arrival, deputies located a male who had been shot, lying in front of the residence,” the sheriff’s office said.

“During the preliminary investigation, it was learned the caller was sitting in their parked car to leave for work when the decedent approached and opened the door, subsequently startling the caller. At that time, a physical altercation ensued.”

The fatal shots were fired as the two struggled, then the victim called 911, officials said.

Responding deputies performed life-saving measures on the suspect, who was declared dead after being taken by ambulance to a hospital. His identity has not been released as of Dec. 16.

The investigation is ongoing, but detectives canvassing the residential neighborhood learned the suspect “attempted to break into five additional cars just prior to this incident,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe on their own property. The homeowner exercised their right to protect themself, which unfortunately resulted in a loss of a life today,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in the news release.

This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 8:03 AM with the headline "Prowler killed when he pulls open car door and finds owner inside, Florida cops say."