What happened
A 73-year-old Vietnam War veteran in San Francisco defended himself against a masked intruder who broke into his home. The incident occurred at 5 a.m. on Saturday when the veteran was awoken by strange noises coming from the floors below.
The intruder had drilled a hole through the veteran's first-floor door and unlocked it before entering the house with a 60-pound husky. The veteran grabbed his handgun and went downstairs to investigate, where he encountered the burglar face-to-face.
The burglar grabbed the veteran, knocking him to his hands and knees. The veteran then fired one shot, which he believes struck the suspect in the buttocks. The intruder ran away, leaving behind a trail of blood-stained shoe prints and the dog.
The veteran suffered minor scrapes to his hands and knees. San Francisco police later detained an injured man about three miles away, who they believe may be the burglary suspect. The man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and could face burglary and other charges.
The veteran's neighbor described him as a heroic figure who is still shaken by the incident. The veteran credited his handgun for helping him defend himself, saying he is still shaken by the experience.
