DOVER, DE – A 15-year-old male was shot when he and an 18-year-old accomplice broke into a home, while armed with the intent to rob it. The one big problem they faced was that the homeowner was a gun owner and fired his gun, striking the juvenile.
According to the Delaware State Police, 18-year-old Aubree Cruz and a 15-year-old male, both of Dover, were arrested following a burglary that took place in the Dover area on Wednesday afternoon.
According to police, at approximately 1:23 p.m., troopers responded to a residence on the 3000 block of Forrest Avenue regarding a report of a burglary that had just occurred.
“The 34-year-old male homeowner informed police that he had observed two subjects breaking into his residence, one of which was armed,” the DSP said in a statement. The victim was able to retrieve his legally owned firearm and fire rounds at one of them, causing both suspects to flee the scene.”
Shortly afterward, troopers contacted a 15-year-old male at Kent General Hospital who had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. The juvenile had been accompanied by Aubree Cruz, and both individuals were determined to be the suspects that had burglarized the residence on Forrest Avenue.
The juvenile was treated for his injuries and released to troopers from the hospital. Cruz was located by troopers a short time later in the Dover area and taken into custody without incident. Both Cruz and the juvenile were transported to Troop 3 and charged.