Boyfriend tackles burglar while girlfriend holds shotgun, calls cops
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EUGENE, Ore. - A Eugene couple caught a burglar in the act and made a citizens arrest with a shotgun early Sunday morning, Eugene Police said.
Derek LeBlanc was headed to work around 5 a.m. Sunday when he saw a pair of feet hanging out the shattered rear window of his pickup truck parked at his north Eugene home on Kenmore Street.
"At this point I had my car keys in my hand. I threw them, and as soon as he got to his feet I just instinctively took him down," LeBlanc said. "You never know what you're going to do until it happens, but I sure as hell wasn't going to be a victim."
After he tackled a man in his front driveway, LeBlanc said he began calling to his girlfriend for help.
Eugene Police later identified the man LeBlanc tackled to be Shawn Daniel Johnson.
Heidi Lusk, LeBlanc's girlfriend, said she came outside with a shotgun and a phone. She said she pointed the shotgun at Johnson with one hand and called police with the other.
"He said shoot me. He must have heard me tell dispatch that I had a shot gun pointed at him," said Lusk. "He asked me to shoot him, and I told him he wasn't worth shooting."
Nearly six minutes later Eugene Police responded and took Johnson into custody.
He was charged with unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, theft in the third degree, possession of burglary tools and possession of marijuana.
He was let out of Lane County Jail a few hours later in a capacity-based release.
While Leblanc's fast actions helped police capture Johnson, Eugene Police Lieutenant Doug Mozan said that these situations can get a lot more complicated if a gun is fired.
"I certainly appreciate a person that has the courage to take on danger. At the same time, a lot of prudence goes a long way," said Lt. Mozan.
Leblanc told KVAL News that he plans to start a neighborhood watch on his street.
Pistol grip shotgun. That is now classified as an "assault weapon" in several states and is illegal under the new "one feature" laws.
How dare you defend your life, liberty, and property with an illegal assault weapon!
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@BatesBE NOTE! I do not invite people in for beer....heh.
@TBDMomentarily Little could the victims know the creep would be let out. Still, if they'd at least shot him in the ass he'd go to hospital.
@BatesBE Invite the creep in for a beer, then do it. Some states frown on outside shootings. If threat is imminent, still complicated.
"Eugene Police Lieutenant Doug Mozan said that these situations can get a lot more complicated if a gun is fired". Â Really! Â The only thing that should be complicated if a gun is shot is to take the dead perp to the morgue instead of jail. Â Saves money and time...no trial needed no need to spend money for his incarceration. Â That seems like a good thing. Â Only issue is the cops tend to think of all good guys who use guns a being bad guys. Â Get better cops!!!!!
@ArmedCznProject @EqlF1 no.no.no9Kd. shoot burglar dead 1st...
@CamAndCompany @KBOITV cool
@ILamy7 Good for them!
@2ndAmGreg And the burglar was released a couple hours later because of jail crowding. The inmates truly are in control of the asylum.
2 things bother me here. 1. It took 6 minutes for police to arrive, even tho there was a firearm involved. I know that distance and time are important factors, but think about all that could have gone wrong in 6 min. You can't carry a cop around with you I know, but it would have seemed like an eternity to me had I been in that situation.
2. They let him out that day because they ran out of room. Who are they locking up that is more important than someone who knows where the people that are going to testify against him live? I mean... He wasn't locked up for even 24 hours. Keep the people that present a threat to others locked away, and let those that are in for non-violent offenses (usually some drug charge) out on some sort of bail or something.
Either way, kudos to both of the citizens who refused to be a victim, and standing up for themselves. People are responsible for their own safety in todays world, because the police are often far away.