A Dallas apartment resident turned shooter early Sunday when a would-be burglar met his match in the form of a bullet. The suspect, 46-year-old Nickolaus Benitez, was caught red-handed trying to break into a domicile in the 9800 block of Walnut Street, according to Dallas authorities.
As the sun barely graced the sky, around 5 a.m., sharp, panic turned to near-tragedy, as police were summoned to the scene of a shooting — disturbing the early morning calm. Authorities arriving at the chaotic scene swiftly pieced together that the would-be intruder, Benitez, received a gunshot by the unnamed resident, reported FOX 4 News.
Wounded but alive, Benitez was then hustled off to a local hospital to lick his injuries before the long arm of the law clamped him in cuffs. Now, he faces a charge of burglary of a habitation with assault. Details remain sparse, but officers did confirm that no other injuries marred the incident.
While the fate of the intruder was sealed with quick justice, Dallas Police kept mum on whether the shooter would skate free from charges. It’s a waiting game to see if the scales tip in favor of the resident's actions, as influenced by Texas law. "He is charged with burglary of a habitation with assault," Police divulged, having told NBC DFW as much regarding Benitez's legal troubles.
The incident stokes the fire in the ongoing debate over self-defense rights and the measures homeowners are forced to take when confronted with uninvited danger. Further developments await as the community and law enforcement process the ramifications of this near-deadly encounter. Meanwhile, Benitez awaits his fate and a fair shot at justice in the hands of the legal system.
