http://www.avpress.com/n/westy2.hts

Business owner fatally shoots intruder
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Wednesday, August
20, 2003.
By NICOLE JACOB
Valley Press Staff Writer

LANCASTER – An intruder at a Lancaster business became the Valley’s 26th
homicide victim this year.

The intruder’s life came to a violent end early Tuesday morning when a
Lancaster business owner shot and killed him after the intruder
allegedly broke into the owner’s comic book shop and was about to attack
the owner.

The intruder, whose identity has not been released, allegedly forced
open a back door of the Bases Cards and Comics about 3 a.m., only to
find the shop owner sleeping in the back room.

The owner told investigators he was sleeping in a back room because of
other recent burglaries at the business, sheriff’s Sgt. Shaun McCarthy
said.

“He heard the door being pried open so he went into the showroom and saw
the (intruder),” McCarthy said. “He said the (intruder) attempted to
strike him with the tool that he was holding, which was a tire iron.”

Sheriff’s officials did not release the shop owner’s identity, but a
search of past Valley Press articles and sources indicate the store
owner is Rob Stephens.

Stephens, armed with a handgun, fired at the intruder, striking him once
in the upper body, sheriff’s officials said. The intruder was dead at
the scene.

Stephens was questioned, but not arrested. Homicide detectives believe
the case is justifiable homicide, but the Los Angeles County District
Attorney’s Office will make a final decision.

“Based on where our investigation is at this point, it’s as clear cut a
case of justifiable homicide as I’ve ever handled,” McCarthy said.
“Everything appears to be consistent with what we’re being told.”

The shop was open for business Tuesday afternoon, but Stephens could not
be reached for comment.

The incident is the latest in a string of seven killings that have
occurred in the Valley since the end of July. Two have involved Valley
business owners who were killed at their businesses.

On July 27, antique shop owner Victoria Gnerlich was found beaten to
death in her Littlerock shop. Detectives said robbery may have been a
motive in that killing.