Male allegedly tries to burglarize home, struggle ensues with homeowner — but fight ends when alleged intruder meets bullet



Police in Riverton, Wyoming, responded to a reported attempted burglary where shots were reported fired shortly after 11 p.m. Friday in the 900 block of East Park Avenue, police said.

Police said a caller reported a struggle between a possible intruder and a homeowner.

The homeowner is cooperating with the detectives' investigation, police said.

Officers found a male in his 20s suffering from an apparent gunshot wound near the home, police said.

An individual at the scene reported seeing the male attempting to break into the home, police said, adding that the apparent intruder was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

The homeowner is cooperating with the detectives' investigation, police said.

In addition to officers from the Riverton Police Department, law enforcement from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol, and the Shoshoni Police Department responded to the call as well.

Police said those with information about the incident can call the Riverton Police Department at 307-856-4891 and that more information will be released as the investigation continues.

How are observers reacting?

Commenters on the Riverton Police Department's Facebook page seemed decidedly pleased about the outcome — and frustrated about crime and crime-fighting:

  • "What’s there to investigate?" one commenter asked. "Sounds like a clear case of stand your ground/castle doctrine… the homeowner defended his/her property. Good for them!!! The people of this town are fed up with the crime — you’re going to see more and more of us exercising our rights because something has to give."
  • "Seems that’s what it’s gonna take to make it all stop since the prosecutors won’t prosecute," another user declared.
  • "Good for the homeowner!!!!" another commenter exclaimed. "This is what it is coming [to]. Can I be on this jury???"
  • "... needs to happen more," another user added. "Teach these little Son-of-a- Bi….. what happens when you break the law."
  • "HELL YES!! YOU GO!!!" another commenter wrote.

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Homeowner fights knife-wielding, would-be burglar who escapes with stunt right out of 'Batman'



A homeowner in Tacoma, Washington, was awakened just before midnight earlier this month by a loud thud that sounded as though it was coming from his roof, KCPQ-TV reported.

So the homeowner went to check out what was happening and saw someone trying to break in from the fourth-floor balcony, the station said.

Then things got downright bizarre.

The homeowner confronted the intruder, and a fight broke out, KCPQ reported. The homeowner punched the suspect several times, and the suspect swiped at the homeowner with a knife, the station said, adding that the homeowner wasn't seriously hurt.

The suspect was apparently armed with two knives and possibly scissors, the station said.

Then things got downright bizarre — with a stunt right out of "Batman."

KCPQ said the suspect dropped from the fourth-floor balcony and landed on the third-floor balcony — and then jumped to the ground from there.

The suspect ran off, got in his vehicle, and drove away, KCPQ said.

The homeowner got in his vehicle and chased the suspect before losing sight of him, the station said, adding that the victim returned home and called 911.

The homeowner told responding law enforcement personnel that he didn't recognize the suspect, KCPQ reported.

More from the station:

When detectives later released a Crime Stoppers bulletin about the crime, a family member of the suspect identified him to police. The family member said that he had just gotten out of the hospital and didn't know where he was. The relative also told detectives that the suspect had bipolar disorder and that his mental health had been declining.

KCPQ said police arrested the suspect and took him into custody without incident Sunday, adding that the attempted burglary took place May 12.

The suspect has been identified as 33-year-old Adam Groetsch, the station said, adding that he's being held in the Pierce County Jail on first-degree attempted burglary and second-degree assault charges with bail set at $75,000. Groetsch was still in jail Friday afternoon, jail records indicate.

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Homeowner shoots alleged burglar 5 times during middle-of-the-night altercation. Things don't end well for apparent culprit.



A Missouri homeowner shot an alleged burglar five times during a middle-of-the-night altercation over the weekend, and the male who apparently tried breaking into the Qulin home died days later.

What are the details?

Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs said deputies responded to a home on Strawberry Lane around 3 a.m. Saturday for a report of a person shot, KFVS-TV reported.

Arriving deputies were told an intruder tried to break into the home, and the homeowner shot him five times, the station said.

The suspect — later identified as 37-year-old Darren Venneman of Chanute, Kansas — was airlifted to a Memphis hospital where he died Tuesday morning, KFVS said.

Dobbs said the homeowner has not been charged because he acted in self-defense, the station said.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters reacting to the KFVS story about the shooting posted on Facebook seem decidedly aligned with the homeowner:

  • "Excellent!!" one commenter declared. "Good for that homeowner!"
  • "My sympathies for the homeowner. We are in the south. Most of us will use deadly force to protect our homes and families — and we are prepared to do just that," another user said. "But having to do it is not an easy thing."
  • "Try that in a small town!!" another commenter exclaimed.
  • "And this is why we need guns. Police can't always be there in [a] nick of time," another user observed. "Besides...this is how we thin the herd."
  • "Don’t break in[to] a house that isn’t yours if you want to live," another commenter stated. "I hate when the news make[s] the person in the wrong to be the victim."
  • "Bet he won't do that again," another user said, tongue firmly in cheek, apparently. "People are fed up. Don't be out trying to rob folks. We will protect what's ours, no if ands or buts about it."
  • "Play stupid games & win stupid prizes!!!!" another commenter wrote. "Good for the homeowner."

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