- An 80-year-old tavern owner in Englewood believes it's "unjust" that he is facing charges after shooting a burglar, but believes he will prevail in court.
"It's wrong," Homer "Tank" Wright said as he walked into his bar after being released from jail this afternoon. "Unjust that I can't protect me."
Awakened by his 75-year-old wife, Wright confronted a 19-year-old burglar who had broken through some plywood over a bathroom window in hopes of stealing liquor, according to police. Wright grabbed his 38.caliber pistol, loaded with four rounds, and shot the intruder in the leg.
The suspect was arrested -- but so was Wright. Because of prior weapons convictions, Wright was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, sparking calls by his family and neighbors for prosecutors to back down.
The judge released him on his own recognizance, and that was probably the right call. But arresting him was also the right call. He has a felony record. The law doesn't give us much wiggle room where gun felonies are concerned. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Yeah, it's Englewood so allowances might be in order, but that's the purview of the legislature.