Atlanta, GA —
By Amanda Moyer
Gwinnett County police said Thursday the Duluth woman who shot and killed a home invader
fired her .22-caliber gun nine times and hit the suspect with every round.
"She did what she had to do," said Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Edwin Ritter said.
Authorities say the armed intruder in Wednesday's deadly home invasion has been identified as 33-year-old Israel Perez Puentes of Alpharetta.
Ritter says an investigation into the attempted sexual assault that resulted in a 53-year-old woman fighting back and killing him after he broke into her home is focusing on the possibility Puentes victimized other women.
"Investigators are still looking into that to see if he is connected to other sexual assaults in our area as well as the Atlanta area and even asking across the United States," said Ritter.
Ritter says the Cuban national has been in the Atlanta area for at least the past three years.
Neighbor Rebecca Wisecup helped the woman immediately following the shooting.
"She said I shot him, I shot him, but I don't know where he went. So, my husband got on the phone to 9-1-1 and I tried to get her a towel to cover her up with and then I went to get her a robe," said Wisecup.
Ritter says the break-in happened in the 2800 block of Mount Tabor Circle near Duluth, while the homeowner was showering.
"She was getting ready to get out of the shower when she was confronted by this male," said Ritter, who added that the man was armed with a kitchen knife. "The male had turned out all the lights. A struggle ensued, and she injured her back. As she fell in the shower, she attempted to fight him off with the shower rod."
At an apparent lull in the struggle, the homeowner offered the crook cash.
"She was telling him not to hurt her, that she had money in the house. He then forced her into the bedroom where it's believed he was going to sexually assault her with the threat of the knife. The victim was able to retrieve her .22 cal. pistol and responded to his deadly threat with deadly force and shot the suspect multiple times," said Ritter.
Ritter says the man fled out the back door and then he collapsed in the backyard. The suspect died at Gwinnett Medical Center.
Wisecup is absolutely mortified and scared to death, but says she is proud of the way her neighbor reacted to the attack.
"She is strong. She is a strong woman for going through that and having the presence of mind to think about her weapon and grab it to protect herself," said Wisecup.
Authorities say the woman was hospitalized with minor injuries and will not face charges.
http://www.wsbradio.com/news/news/lo...t-named/nCf3b/
9/9.....good shooting.
It's nice to see the good guys/gals win for a change, too many of these home invasions don't turn out well for the homeowner.
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