Police discover home invader has bullet lodged in head

An Oakland man is in stable condition following a break-in attempt that prompted an 85-year-old El Cerrito homeowner to shoot the perpetrator in the head. Despite his injuries, authorities said the man fled from the scene, then later from police.

Local media reported the homeowner, identified by neighbors only as “Harry,” was home alone Wednesday morning when two men knocked on the door around 11:15 a.m. After he failed to answer the front door, the two suspects then went through a gate into the back yard, prompting the homeowner to call the police and report the men, whom he felt to be suspicious.

But while the homeowner was waiting for police to respond to his call, the two suspects began to kick in the back door. At this point, Harry armed himself with a gun and when the two suspects gained entry into the home, the homeowner opened fire. One suspect fled on foot, while the other took off in a vehicle parked nearby.

Police arrived a short time later and about 15 blocks from the scene found one of the suspects, who was later identified as Shawn Mulberry, 34. When officers attempted to approach Mulberry, he allegedly led them on a foot pursuit, but authorities eventually caught up with the man and apprehended him. It was then that officers discovered Mulberry had been shot in the head, they said.

“It is kind of amazing to think that a person with a bullet in their head was able to travel that distance and run from police once they saw him,” said Lt. Steve Bonini with the El Cerrito Police Department.

Mulberry was transported to the hospital where he was initially listed in critical condition, but has since been upgraded to stable. Mulberry, who was on parole and had a warrant for his arrest at the time of the break-in, now faces burglary charges.

Authorities have not found the second suspect, who is believed to have fled in a white or gray sedan.

After the break-in and subsequent shooting, one of Mulberry’s family members went to Harry’s home to confront him about the shooting – a move which both authorities and neighbors feel was not acceptable.

“It’s an intimidation of a witness,” said neighbor Neil Swendsen. “That’s all it is, pure and simple.”

Although authorities did not elaborate on the confrontation, the visit prompted the police department to station an officer at Harry’s home.

Meanwhile, the homeowner’s neighbors all say he acted appropriately during the home invasion and called him a hero.

“When an 85-year-old man can take on a young thug breaking into his house, then I would absolutely call him a hero,” Swendsen said.

The neighbors, who are now calling him “Dirty Harry,” want to gather donations to buy Harry a bigger gun because “obviously the gun he had didn’t do the job,” Swendsen said.

Other residents agree that Harry did the neighborhood a favor by putting Mulberry – at least temporarily – out of commission, and residents hope his actions will send a clear message for other criminals to stay away.

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Source: http://www.guns.com/2015/09/08/police-discover-home-invader-has-bullet-lodged-in-head/