A homeowner in northeastern Indiana woke up to the sound of his dog barking early on Monday and got face-to-face with a group of burglars who demanded money and other belongings from him, according to reports.
The unidentified homeowner said the night was really dark and he was able to grab his shotgun. He opened fire at the intruders, fatally shooting two of the thieves.
A third individual, identified as 42-year-old Tabitha Johnson, surrendered and was escorted out of the residence by the homeowner. A fourth person, identified as 42-year-old Shaun Kruse, was waiting outside of the house in DeKalb County as a lookout man.
Kruse was then forced to dial 911 after the homeowner confronted him with Johnson at gunpoint.
Police soon after arrived at the scene and found Moore and Morefield deceased inside the house and the homeowner holding Johnson and Kruse at gunpoint. The pair held at gunpoint was arrested and they have been charged with murder and burglary charges.
The law in Indiana says a person can be charged with murder if a death occurs while a felony crime is being committed, WPTA reported. One of the burglars was reportedly armed with a firearm.
No charges have been brought against the homeowner, police said.
According to the court records cited by the station, it is not the first time the same group of thieves had demanded money from the homeowner. He told police that just one day before Monday’s deadly incident, the same group allegedly demanded cash from him.
The man also told police that a female suspect who survived the burglary had occasionally stayed with him several times over the years and had recently messaged him about needing thousands of dollars because “some bad people thought she had stolen it from them.”
During the first encounter, the homeowner said he gave all his cash to her and the three other thieves, but they demanded more. They asked the man to go to the bank while threatening him in order to get more money, but the bank was closed that day.
