A Navajo County homeowner shot and wounded 18-year-old William L. Hansen, after he tried to break into the man’s home in search of his girlfriend.
According to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office, on the evening of March 29, 2019 deputies responded to a report of a male subject attempting to break into a residence located in the White Mountain Lakes area.
The homeowner reported that he and his wife were sitting in the living room when they heard loud banging on the kitchen door. The homeowner went to see what the banging was and saw
Hansen banging on the door yelling for his girlfriend. The man told Hansen to leave, but instead he attempted to reach through the pet door to grab the door knob and unlock the door, according to the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO).
The homeowner knocked the subjects arm away from the lock and Hansen then backed away but began to throw rocks at the door breaking a window. The homeowner started to yell at Hansen telling him to go away and warning him that he had a gun. He yelled “I will shoot you” several times.
Hansen ignored the warnings and continued to yell that he wanted his girlfriend.
Hansen then unlocked the back door and the terrified homeowner fired his pistol one time towards Hansen’s legs in attempt to stop him. Hansen was struck in the leg, but managed to walk into the residence before falling to the floor.
Hansen continued to yell for his girlfriend while crawling.
According to NCSO, the homeowner put down his weapon and got on top of Hansen holding him down until deputies arrived. Even after deputies arrived Hansen was disorderly and refused to identify himself.
Hansen was taken to the transported to the hospital for a gunshot wound to the leg.
Criminal charges are pending.
“This is a tragic situation for all of the individuals involved. Based on the preliminary investigative information the homeowner was put in a really bad situation with an intruder breaking into his home,” said Sheriff David Clouse. “The homeowner announced multiple times he was going to protect his house and did what was necessary to insure both him and his family’s safety.”