Long Beach Man Shoots Burglars — Justified or Not?

The holidays are meant to be a time of joy, reflection and kindness towards others. However, for Tom Greer, 80, of Long Beach California, the holidays were nothing of the sort. Upon entering his home he found a young woman and man ransacking his belongings and yanking open his safe. The couple went on to assault Greer and wrestle him to the ground.

It was at this moment that Greer took matters into his own hands. Greer, who carries a .22 caliber gun for self-defense, decided it was time to defend his property and life. He took aim at the intruders, firing at them within his domicile. Greer stated, “I come back and they see me with a gun, and they run,” The male subject fled the property but the female subject fell and was unable to continue her escape.

“She says, ‘Don’t shoot me, I’m pregnant! I’m going to have a baby!’ And I shot her anyway,” Greer stated.

Complicating the matter is the fact that Mr. Greer shot the female subject in a back alley behind the house. Law states that if a victim is no longer in eminent danger and fearing for their life, he/she is no longer able to defend himself/herself. Mr. Greer also admits to shooting the subject off his property in the alley.

The case, which is currently in investigators hands, is being looked at closely. Although Mr. Greer was defending himself during the attack he will need a skilled Los Angeles defense attorney to argue his complex case in court.