A New York homeowner turned a frightening suspected burglary into a tense standoff after monitoring his security cameras, rushing to the property and disabling a vehicle allegedly connected to the break-in, authorities said.
He Looked Like an Ordinary Young Man—Then He Became One of America’s Most Notorious CriminalsHe Looked Like an Ordinary Young Man—Then He Became One of America’s Most Notorious Criminals
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The incident unfolded Sunday night on Oneill Road in Richmond, where the homeowner received live surveillance footage showing two people entering a property he owned, according to Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Undersheriff Michael Rago.
The homeowner was not at the property when he first saw the suspicious activity. Because he lived nearby, he immediately headed toward the location while remaining on the phone with the 911 center.
When he arrived, the homeowner reportedly discovered a vehicle parked in a concealed manner on the property. He also noticed lights moving or flickering inside the residence, suggesting that someone was inside.
Authorities said the homeowner armed himself with a shotgun and called out toward the people inside the home. He then fired at the tires of the suspicious vehicle, effectively preventing it from being driven away.
The situation quickly changed after the gunfire.
One of the people inside the residence contacted 911 and reportedly told dispatchers that the occupants intended to leave the home peacefully with their hands raised.
Deputies soon arrived at the property and took two suspects into custody.
The suspects were identified as Alexandria Mosher, 19, and Dominick Wood, 22, both of Lima, New York.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators found the pair carrying property that had allegedly come from inside the residence. Both were subsequently arrested and charged with second-degree burglary.
Mosher and Wood were released after appearing in court for arraignment.
The homeowner, meanwhile, has not been charged in connection with the confrontation.
Rago offered a reminder about New York’s laws governing the use of force, particularly when a homeowner confronts people suspected of committing a crime.
He said residents should familiarize themselves with Article 35, which addresses circumstances involving the use of physical and deadly physical force.
In this case, Rago indicated that the homeowner’s actions did not constitute deadly physical force against the suspects. Although the shotgun was used during the confrontation and the vehicle’s tires were struck, authorities said the weapon was not used to shoot at the people inside the home.
The incident underscores how quickly a suspected property crime can escalate when an armed homeowner confronts alleged intruders.
The homeowner’s security system played a key role in alerting him to the activity before he arrived at the property. Rather than discovering the suspected burglary after the fact, he was able to watch events unfold remotely and notify authorities while traveling to the scene.
