Caretaker at Dayton church shoots burglar

WHIO (CBS Dayton) reported recently that a burglar who broke into a church on Friday night, Aug. 17, was shot by an armed caretaker who was staying there because of prior break-ins.

From the article:

According to the preliminary investigation, the suspect broke in through the back side of the building, off an alley. There was a gentleman staying inside the building because of prior problems there with break-ins during which copper and other items had been taken, Burden said.

"He was staying in the church to keep an eye on it," Burden said of the caretaker. "He was lying in the basement when he heard the window breaking."

The caretaker fired once, striking the suspect "generally, center body," in the stomach area, Burden said.

According to the article, the suspect was in surgery at Miami Valley Hospital and was expected to survive. The man who fired the shotgun was taken in for questioning.

The article also says police are investigating whether the suspect was armed or made any threats toward the caretaker.

Under Ohio's Castle Doctrine law, if someone unlawfully enters or attempts to enter an occupied home or temporary habitation, or occupied car, citizens have an initial presumption that they may act in self defense, and will not be second-guessed by the State.