Police say man, 21, shot while breaking into home in Grand Prairie

A man suspected of burglary was in critical condition late Tuesday after he was shot by a resident in south Grand Prairie, police said.

Gilberto Balderas, 21, was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth following the shooting in the 2000 block of Clark Trail, police said.

The resident called 911 at 2:29 p.m. to say someone was breaking into the home and that he was armed with a handgun. A moment later, while still on the phone, the man said the intruder came at him with a knife and that he shot him.

Officers arrived and found Balderas on the floor with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

"Near the suspect was a knife," said Det. Lyle Gensler, police spokesman, in a news release. "The suspect was treated and transported by helicopter to John Peter Smith Hospital where he was taken into surgery and is listed in critical condition."

Gensler said the resident was interviewed at the scene.

"This appears to be a justified shooting," he said, "but the case will be presented to the grand jury as is proper procedure in these types of incidents."

He also noted that "the suspect will be charged with burglary of a residence."

— Bill Miller

Comments

[djh]

Don't know why the knife made any difference. The intruder was inside this guy's home.
Can't figure out why the home owner did not kill the intruder in the first place.

[Harvey Brammer]

Ithink the homeowner did the right thing.
The burglar got what he deserved.Perhaps
he will think twice before the next burglary.

[richard homeowner]

You break in a house, you can be shot in Texas. It's called the
castle doctrine. Good for the home owner. We don't need these thugs and squatters in our homes.