Stories about “good guys with guns” are the greatest. They illustrate two things that we find appealing. First and foremost, a thorough exercise of one’s right to self-defense under the second amendment. Second, the deserving punishment for the guilty guys, is that some people can’t help but smile and give a thumbs up when they heard that 93-year-old Joe Teague shot one of the men trying to rob him at home.
Well, criminals thought that robbing an old man is an easy target but they soon realize that it was clearly a mistake.
A group of attempted robbers broke into Joe Teague’ in Moreno Valley, California home. Ol’ Joe is a retired plumber who has taken up being a musician as a hobby, so he owns a treasure trove of tools and several instruments worth a pretty penny. Teague’s home has frequently been broken into by thieves who took advantage of his advanced age and did so without fear of reprisal. In fact, the robbers were so brash, according to Oscar Malma, whose wife is the homeowner’s granddaughter.
Malma said, “It happened once on Friday. On that bright day, they went (broke) into the house. And now this happens in the middle of the night. They were looking for him. He’s an old, retired plumber. He has a lot of tools…he’s a musician as well, so he’s got a lot of musical instruments. Little by little, they’ve been ripping him off.”
Despite the fact that Teague would notify the police after each break-in, the burglars had grown accustomed to the police’s protracted response times. The criminals had already left with the stolen goods by the time the cops arrived. Malma noted, “He was tired because every time he calls the police, (they took) forever to come and assist him.”
Teague realized he needed to come up with a stronger plan than phoning the police as the intruders fled with his belongings because there was no end in sight. Now, he was then prepared when the same group of robbers showed up again shortly after midnight one fateful night.
Teague said, “The fact is, when they broke in they got a lot of my equipment and I approached them to put them under citizens arrest.”
But after successfully stealing Teague so many times, the intruders didn’t take him seriously, when the 93-year-old homeowner pulled out his trusty shotgun and warned the thieves to drop his things, –having enough of them.
The gang assaulted him, instead of relenting.
But all it took was one shot. He opened fire when someone brandished a fishing pole at him, badly injuring the dipweed and driving the others away.
Recalling the incident, Teague said, “I kept telling them, I have a shotgun with three shells in it but I actually only had one. And they kept throwing stuff at me.”
After he shot one of the suspects, Teague then dialed 911 to inform them that he had just shot a potentially dangerous intruder. The suspect, Joseph Ortega, 33, was taken to the hospital in critical condition and has now been recognized.
Investigators questioned Teague in-depth, but he was not detained. Authorities stated shortly after the incident that he is not anticipated to face charges, despite the fact that the investigation was still ongoing.
“He took the law into his own hands… He’s been working all his life and whatever little things he has, he’s (protecting). He was defending his property. That happened inside his house. So I don’t think there’s any reason for him to be arrested,” Malma said.
In the days following the incident, deputies were reportedly still looking for the remaining suspects. As the sheriff’s office confirmed that several people were seen fleeing Teague’s house just before authorities arrived.
The incident is being investigated by the sheriff’s office as a case of justified self-defense. And and that no charges will be filed against him, as they confirmed that Joe Teague’s use of deadly force was justified.
Many people, such as Teague, are especially vulnerable to those who would exploit them. Because law enforcement cannot be everywhere at all times, the best defense, as Teague demonstrated, is to be properly armed and trained.
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: TapHaps, KABC, NYPost