(LA) Intruder killed by elderly homeowner

Oatka · September 30, 2001, 10:50 AM

Another death because there was no trigger lock.

Moral: " Don't mess with us Old Folks."

Betcha the late, unlamented Mr. Patterson has a record as long as your arm.

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/i...adthief30.html

No charges filed against 93-year-old

By Tara Young, Staff writer#

A 93-year-old man shot and killed an intruder who broke into his Abita Subdivision home early Saturday, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said.

The St. Tammany Parish coroner's office identified the victim as Michael Patterson, 22, of Havelock, N.C. A coroner's office spokesman said he was in town visiting relatives in the Covington area.

An autopsy was completed Saturday. The results will be released to the St. Tammany district attorney's office, pending the completion of an investigation into the shooting by the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies received a call from Leo Pratt, who lives on Violet Street in the Abita Subdivision, shortly before 4 a.m. Pratt told police he had just shot an intruder in his home, said Tiffany Tate, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

Pratt told deputies he was awakened when he heard someone apparently breaking in his home by forcing open the front door. The intruder struck Pratt, and Pratt said he grabbed a .38 caliber handgun he kept near his bed and opened fire.

Patterson died at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, where he had been taken for treatment. Pratt also was taken to the hospital to be checked for injuries. He was later released, authorities said.

No charges are expected to be filed against Pratt, the Sheriff's Office said.

. . . . . . .

Tara Young can be reached at tyoung@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3795.

© The Times-Picayune.

bobs1066 · September 30, 2001, 11:35 AM

At first, I thought LA in the title meant Los Angeles & figured the homeowner would be in trouble for protecting himself. Glad to find out this incident occurred in a more sane part of the country. The NC police should send Mr. Pratt a thank-you card for taking out the trash...

Jim V · September 30, 2001, 07:03 PM

If the parents and friends of the, now deceased, home breaker con some idjet reporter into writting a "He was a good boy." story both them and the reporter should be tried as co-conspiritors in the crime.

let us hear it for the splash of chlorine in the gene pool.

eviltravis · September 30, 2001, 07:49 PM

Why is Patterson refered to as the victim? I'd say the old man was the victim.

Coronach · September 30, 2001, 11:14 PM

Outstanding.

Mike

September 30, 2001, 10:50 AM	#1
Oatka Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Nevada Posts: 3,119	(LA) Intruder killed by elderly homeowner Another death because there was no trigger lock. Moral: " Don't mess with us Old Folks." Betcha the late, unlamented Mr. Patterson has a record as long as your arm. http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/metro/i...adthief30.html No charges filed against 93-year-old By Tara Young, Staff writer# A 93-year-old man shot and killed an intruder who broke into his Abita Subdivision home early Saturday, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office said. The St. Tammany Parish coroner's office identified the victim as Michael Patterson, 22, of Havelock, N.C. A coroner's office spokesman said he was in town visiting relatives in the Covington area. An autopsy was completed Saturday. The results will be released to the St. Tammany district attorney's office, pending the completion of an investigation into the shooting by the Sheriff's Office. Deputies received a call from Leo Pratt, who lives on Violet Street in the Abita Subdivision, shortly before 4 a.m. Pratt told police he had just shot an intruder in his home, said Tiffany Tate, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman. Pratt told deputies he was awakened when he heard someone apparently breaking in his home by forcing open the front door. The intruder struck Pratt, and Pratt said he grabbed a .38 caliber handgun he kept near his bed and opened fire. Patterson died at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, where he had been taken for treatment. Pratt also was taken to the hospital to be checked for injuries. He was later released, authorities said. No charges are expected to be filed against Pratt, the Sheriff's Office said. . . . . . . . Tara Young can be reached at tyoung@timespicayune.com or (504) 826-3795. © The Times-Picayune.

September 30, 2001, 07:03 PM	#3
Jim V Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 1999 Location: SE Michigan - USA Posts: 4,044	If the parents and friends of the, now deceased, home breaker con some idjet reporter into writting a "He was a good boy." story both them and the reporter should be tried as co-conspiritors in the crime. let us hear it for the splash of chlorine in the gene pool. __________________ *MOLON LABE* If it ain't metal, single stack & single action, it ain't a 1911 no matter what it looks like. 1911 Forum THE TUBBY CURMUDGEON

September 30, 2001, 11:14 PM	#5
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,151	Outstanding. Mike __________________ The axe bites into the door, ripping a hole in one panel. The maniac puts his face into the hole, cackling gleefully, "Here's Johnny...erk." "And here's Smith and Wesson," murmurs Coronach, Mozambiquing six rounds of .357 into the critter at a range of three feet. -Lawdog "True pacifism is the finest form of manliness. But if a man comes up to you and cuts your hand off, you don't just offer him the other one. Not if you want to go on playing the piano, you don't." -Sam Peckinpah "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein

September 30, 2001, 11:35 AM	#2
bobs1066 Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: Eastern Kansas Posts: 222	At first, I thought LA in the title meant Los Angeles & figured the homeowner would be in trouble for protecting himself. Glad to find out this incident occurred in a more sane part of the country. The NC police should send Mr. Pratt a thank-you card for taking out the trash...

September 30, 2001, 07:49 PM	#4
eviltravis Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2001 Location: montana Posts: 177	Why is Patterson refered to as the victim? I'd say the old man was the victim.