WWII vet kills would-be burglar with single shot
»Play Video
VERONA, Kentucky -- In World War II, Earl Jones defended his country. On Monday night the 92-year-old veteran had to defend his own home.
"I heard 'tack, tack' down in the basement," said Jones, whose farm has been the target of multiple burglaries. "I said 'somebody's down there,' so I got my gun. I was sitting right here and I heard him on the steps."
Jones waited with his .22-caliber rifle until the intruders were just on the other side of his basement door.
"He kicked the door and as soon as he got inside it was all over," Jones said.
Jones fired a single round and hit 24-year-old Lloyd Maxwell in the chest. Police say Maxwell was carried off by two other intruders. They put him in a car and took off, stopping down a country road to call 911.
Kirk Schneider lives along the road and said he saw the group near his neighbor's yard after they stopped.
"My neighbor was checking on the other kid in the car that I guess got shot. He took his pulse and said he's dead," Schneider said.
Prosecutors say Jones will not face charges in Maxwell's death. The other men involved in the break-in have been charged with burglary and tampering with evidence.
"I heard 'tack, tack' down in the basement," said Jones, whose farm has been the target of multiple burglaries. "I said 'somebody's down there,' so I got my gun. I was sitting right here and I heard him on the steps."
Jones waited with his .22-caliber rifle until the intruders were just on the other side of his basement door.
"He kicked the door and as soon as he got inside it was all over," Jones said.
Jones fired a single round and hit 24-year-old Lloyd Maxwell in the chest. Police say Maxwell was carried off by two other intruders. They put him in a car and took off, stopping down a country road to call 911.
Kirk Schneider lives along the road and said he saw the group near his neighbor's yard after they stopped.
"My neighbor was checking on the other kid in the car that I guess got shot. He took his pulse and said he's dead," Schneider said.
Prosecutors say Jones will not face charges in Maxwell's death. The other men involved in the break-in have been charged with burglary and tampering with evidence.
If I'm not mistaken, don't certain lower primates carry off their wounded as well?
I love Earl! "kicked in the door and it was over." simple as that with a head nod of "thats how we do it" Love and respect.
Good shoot.
Good job Earl Jones! Well done! And now the other 2 need to be charged with the murder of their friend, also!
Under the same circumstances the same result would occur in my home....although it wouldn't be a .22 round in the burglar's chest.
@hewhoo 12 guage with #4 shot
 @hewhoo the nice thing about a 22 is the terminal velocity after hitting the first person
VETS ROCK good job you protected your neighbors by getting two scum bags off the street for a few months or longer and permanently for the other scum bag
 @Iam1woody That's why you use jacketed hollow points for self defense... it's not going to go through the person. .22 is usually not going to be enough to stop an attacker, but fortunately this man is a great shot.Â
 @Iam1woody Hah, yeah, I can imagine. But if I have to defend myself, I'm not going to be too worried about that. It would suck to do it by accident though. :) Springfield .45 XD with Speer Gold Dot MJHPs is my defense choice... all about the temporary cavity damage.
 @PleaseBeSmart oh and I discharged the 44 inside once ...hello can you hear me I cant hear you speak up please hello will some one answer that damn phone
 @PleaseBeSmart my little old sears 22 will put 19 rounds down range in about 5 seconds.and its what the mob used because it would rattle around inside the skull for a while like a blender
 @hewhoo Well, it sounds like the .22 round did it's job!