FLINT (KYTX) - An East Texas homeowner fights back when a man breaks into his house, landing the intruder in the hospital. Sheriff Larry Smith that man is still at ETMC in Tyler in the ICU.
It happened at the Pine Trail Shores subdivision in Flint at about 1:30 Saturday morning.
In the middle of the night, an intruder chose the wrong homeowner to mess with.
Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said, "Apparently the intruder had been stabbed by the homeowner."
The homeowner says a man broke down his door. Deputies don't believe the intruder had a weapon, but the homeowner felt threatened and stabbed him.
The intruder is described as a white male, 6 ft 2 in. medium build, about 33 years old.
Sheriff Smith says, "You have to protect yourself, and you have to protect your family. In this situation, I'm sure he thought he did what was best to protect his family from someone breaking in his house."
After being stabbed, the man ran to the home next door for help. The neighbors didn't want to go on camera but they tell us the man was asking for medical help.
They were about to call 911, but minutes later Smith County Sheriff's deputies and EMS showed up and took the intruder to the hospital.
Sheriff Smith says sometimes, you have to protect yourself in this type of situation. "The test is, if the homeowner felt like his life or the life of a third party is in danger, he can use deadly force to stop the danger."
He says there's no right answer every time, but you always have the right to defend yourself.
Neighbors believe the intruder lived in the Pine Trail Shores area. When he is released from the hospital, he will most likely be charged with burglary of a habitation.
