Palm Beach Country Estates homeowner shoots suspected burglar

A homeowner shot a 16-year-old male on Friday after Palm Beach County Sheriff's investigators said the teenager broke into the residence on the 15000 block of 70th Trail North.

PBSO said the shots rang out around 9:10 a.m. in the neighborhood of Palm Beach Country Estates.

Investigators said the suspected robber forced his way into the back of the home and that is when he was shot by the homeowner who investigators said was inside with his wife.

Neighbors who live nearby said they did not hear the shots but said it is alarming to hear that there was an attempted burglary that ended in gunfire.

"I think he did the right thing. I'm happy that my neighbor didn't get hurt and I'm happy whatever happens to the burglar, obviously he should be aware people in the neighborhood are armed and they are going to protect themselves," said Richard Spencer, who lives nearby the scene of the shooting.

A PBSO spokesperson confirmed the same home was broken into three weeks ago but did not know if the incidents are related.

In the previous attempted burglary, investigators said the residents were home at the time but only a window was broken.

Crime reports indicate there were two burglary calls in the same area on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old suspect was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in critical condition. Identities of the people involved in Friday's shooting have not been released.

 

Story clarifies location was Palm Beach Country Estates, not Jupiter Farms