Preble sheriff: Prosecutor to decide invasion case

UPDATE @ 7:45 p.m. July 13: The Preble County prosecutor will decide whether anything criminal occurred in the fatal shooting of an armed intruder accused of forcing his way into a house on Lowell Avenue on Friday night, Sheriff Mike Simpson told News Center 7's John Bedell.

“The resident’s decision to fire at our victim was based on the fact that the victim was armed with a pistol,” Simpson said. “So, based on what we know today, we don’t see any issues with [the resident’s] decision to do that.” There’s “still a lot of the pieces of the puzzle that need to be put together on this.”

According to the 911 call released by the sheriff’s office, the woman who called 911 said the intruder shouted an obscenity and her husband shot him once in the chest. That intruder, later identified as 22-year-old Jacob Craft of Eaton, died the same night at Miami Valley Hospital.

When the 911 dispatcher asked about the intruder, the woman said, “I have no idea who he is. He had a mask tied over his face. His eyes were showing and he had a hat on…it was like a bandanna.”

Simpson has declined to say what kind or caliber handgun Craft or the husband had in their possession. The husband was alerted to the intruder by his 3-year-son, who had come into the home and alerted his father that “a robber’s here, daddy,” running toward the house.

Craft was in the house when the husband fired, the sheriff said. There was one other adult and two other children in the house when the shooting occurred.

Simpson, in his interview with Bedell, was quick to dispel any concerns that have been voiced about the incident.

“They don’t have someone running around town just barging into homes with loaded weapons,” the sheriff said of the Preble County village. “This was an isolated incident.”

UPDATE @ 3:40 p.m. July 11:

A 22-year-old suspected armed intruder who was shot by a resident Friday night after people in the house said he barged in later succumbed to his injuries, Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said.

The man was identified as Jacob Craft of Eaton, who was shot once in the torso, the sheriff said. He was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died.

Deputies recovered two firearms from the house in the 500 block of Lowell Avenue, Simpson said.

The incident remains under investigation.

UPDATE @ 9:15 p.m. July 10:

A suspected armed intruder was shot by a resident today after people in the home said he barged in, Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said.

At the time of the shooting, just after 6:30 p.m., there were three adults and three children in the house in the 500 block of Lowell Avenue in this Preble County village.

“We found a 22-year-old male on the floor just inside the front door with a single gunshot wound to the torso area,” Simpson said. “According to the people who live here, they do not know him.”

The man, who had a handgun, was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital. Simpson said said he did not have the man’s name or condition.

No other injuries were reported.

Simpson said the preliminary investigation reveals the intruder arrived by car, which was left in front of the single-story home, and residents said he just came through the door. A storm door was unlocked, the front door was ajar.

“According to people here, he walks in the door … they observe him with a weapon, and one shot is fired and he is hit,” Simpson said.

The sheriff did not release what type of gun was used to shoot the intruder.

Deputies were awaiting search warrants to enter the residence and the intruder’s car, which they planned to have towed from the scene. He said the residents are cooperating.

UPDATE @ 8:48 p.m.:

An armed intruder was shot by a resident tonight inside a home, Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson said.

The intruder entered the home through its unlocked front door. The occupants did not know the man, the sheriff said.

The intruder was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. The man’s name and condition have not been released. The incident remains under investigation.

FIRST REPORT

Yellow police tape surrounds a home tonight where one person was taken by CareFlight to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.

Preble County Sheriff’s dispatch said deputies and medics were called at 6:39 p.m. to the 500 block of Lowell Avenue off Holzmuller Road in the Eldorado area of the county.

Dispatchers said they were unable to confirm what the call was for.

Deputies and New Paris police are on scene.