Although it seemed there were a few things wrong simply from a tactical aspect, from a moral and legal aspect the guy seemed perfectly justified.
Lt. Kingston said the man appears to be 35 to 45 years old. Mr. Lutz added that the man weighed close to 300 pounds and was white. Mr. Lamancusa said no weapon was found on the dead man, who was wearing rubber gloves.
The elderly veteran said he owns several weapons and has made it a longtime habit to sleep with a loaded pistol.
"What's the point of having a gun if it's not loaded?" he said.
Friday's incident began with Mr. Lutz asleep in his bed until he was startled by the sound of breaking glass.
"They broke the glass and pushed in the door," he said.
Carrying his .380 semi-automatic, he went down the hallway and, as he got to its edge, he confronted the two men, one of whom grabbed him.
"It was pitch black. I met one face-on, and he reached out and grabbed at me. I shot him," Mr. Lutz recounted.
Though mortally wounded, the intruder tussled with Mr. Lutz with assistance from the second intruder. The three scuffled on the kitchen floor when the wounded intruder "rolled over dead." The second intruder ran out the front door.
As far as neighborhoods go, times change Fortunately there's still people around like this guy.Lt. Kingston described Mr. Lutz's Jamison Street home as part of a residential neighborhood not known for having problems with crime.