Homeowner shoots intoxicated, pantless intruder, police say
Jun 20, 2017, 2:12 PM
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RIVERTON — A homeowner in Riverton shot a man who police said was intoxicated and followed the homeowner’s children into their garage late Monday night.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at 11638 S. Winford Drive around 11 p.m. There they found a homeowner armed with a gun and a man who had been shot, according to Unified Police Lt. Brian Lohrke.
Before police arrived, the man, who was intoxicated, had been visiting friends at a home across the street and had removed his pants, according to Lohrke. The man then pulled out a knife and approached a nearby car with two teenagers inside.
The teens called their mother, asked her to open the garage door of their home, drove into the garage and safely entered their home. The man with the knife followed them into the garage and tried to enter their home, Lohrke said.
The homeowner, who was armed with a handgun, confronted the man in the garage. The two struggled and the homeowner shot the intoxicated man multiple times, Lohrke said. Police arrived shortly after that.
“Before (the intruder) was able to be detained — he was shot, mind you that — he stood up, and started toward the gun. Officers were giving him commands to stop, and at the same time they were able to race over and grab and secure the gun. (The man) then attempted to get inside the house, and officers used a Taser to stop him from getting inside,” Lohrke said.
Lohrke said the man, 36-year-old Derrick Palmer, was taken to a hospital in critical condition but was later upgraded to serious condition.
-Linda Williams and Mary Richards
