A homeowner in Manatee County, Florida, fatally shot a masked intruder last week.
The River Club home had surveillance cameras. According to police reports, one of the cameras caught footage of two men entering the back of the home.
Rick Wells, the Manatee County sheriff, said the homeowner acted quickly.
A Bad Situation
“He knew something bad was about to happen, and he didn’t stall. He grabbed his firearm, told his wife to get into a safe spot,” Wells said, per Fox 13.
The homeowner confronted the two intruders. They had pried open a window and were climbing through when he found them.
“The homeowner fired multiple rounds, hitting one of the intruders, while the other fled the scene,” according to the police report.
Aftermath
WWSB reports that the police took the injured suspect to nearby Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He was in critical condition upon arrival and died from his injuries in the hospital.
Police identified him as 27-year-old Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toledo. The police reports note that Flores-Toledo is from Mexico, although his citizen status and legality are unclear.
A K-9 Unit came in to track down the other suspect. They found the suspect a few blocks away and arrested him.
The Second Suspect
The authorities identified the second suspect as Michel Soto-Mella, a 39-year-old male with an expired Visa from Chile. The 90-day visa expired in September, according to Fox 35, and Soto-Mella has been living here illegally since.
The MCSO initially reported that they believed all those involved in the crime were caught, but have since revised.
“Manatee County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives believe there may be other individuals involved in this crime,” the Sheriff’s Office statement said.
Soto-Mella has already been charged with armed burglary, and news outlets anticipate more charges soon.
Prior Criminal Activity
Flores-Toledo, before breaking into the Florida home, already had a criminal record. according to police documents, he has an alias, “Anibal Miller-Valencia.”
His “Miller-Valencia” alias has a birthdate in 2001, and was arrested in 2023 for residential burglary. He was released from jail in November 2024 on parole, according to the police report.
READ MORE: Homeowner Shoots Intruder Who Escaped From Car Accident
Before this recent burglary, police issued a warrant for Flores-Toledo or “Miller-Valencia.” He had violated his parole, and police considered him “armed and dangerous.”
Sheriff Applauds Homeowner
Police are trying to figure out why the two suspects targeted this homeowner. Either way, the homeowner thought quickly. He had already prepared himself to defend his home, should he ever need to.
“The bottom line is,” Wells said, “this is the state of Florida. If you wanna break into someone’s home, you should expect to be shot.”
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