(DailyVantage.com) – An elderly Wyoming homeowner shot and injured an alleged intruder who was attempting to gain entry into his Riverton home on August 9 following a struggle on the front porch.
According to a statement from the Riverton, Wyoming Police Department, officers were called to a home on E. Park Avenue just after 11:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9 after receiving a 911 call from the homeowner who reported a struggle between with a possible intruder.
Officers from the Riverton Police and deputies from the Freemont County Sheriff’s Department, as well as law enforcement from the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the neighboring Shoshoni Police Department, arrived at the scene to find the alleged suspect, a man in his 20s, suffering from a gunshot wound.
The alleged suspect was taken to a nearby hospital where he was listed in stable condition, the police said.
The homeowner, 85-year-old Wayne Williams, told Cowboy State Daily that he heard someone attempting to enter his home and grabbed a handgun he keeps for protection. He said he opened the door to confront the intruder, who he said was acting crazy and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
When the suspect pushed his way into the home, Williams attempted to fire his weapon but forgot to chamber a round. He then fought the suspect and pushed him outside. The two men were wrestling on the porch when the suspect fell down the stairs, taking Williams with him.
Both Williams and the suspect struggled to their feet and Williams fired his weapon, hitting the suspect in the leg.
Williams went back inside and called 911.
The Riverton police took Williams to the station for questioning as officers remained behind to search his home.
The Riverton Police Department said in its statement that Williams was cooperating with the investigation.
Williams told Cowboy State Daily that he had been experiencing dizzy spells since the August 9 incident but wasn’t sure if they were related to the altercation with the intruder.
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