Address:http://www.springfieldnewsleader.com/news/burglary010102.html
Jan. 1, 2002
Victim of burglary shoots suspect
David Watson of Hollister is charged with seven felonies over a break-in
in Forsyth.
By Kathryn Buckstaff
News-Leader

FORSYTH – A Hollister man was charged Monday with seven felonies,
including robbery, burglary and stealing after being shot by the victim
of the burglary.

David Watson, 30, is in stable condition at a Springfield hospital.
Police said, he was surprised by a woman who found him in her home off
Taney County BB when she arrived there about 5 p.m. Sunday.

The suspect held the woman at gunpoint for a short time until she saw
her husband driving up the driveway to the rural home in his truck, said
Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell.

The woman broke away from the suspect and ran from the house to warn her
husband that a robbery was in progress. At that time, the suspect ran
from the home and jumped into the couple’s van. The husband then grabbed
a rifle in his truck and shot out one of the van’s tires, Russell said.
The suspect pointed his gun at the husband who then fired a shot that
hit the suspect in the arm, Russell said.

Russell asked that the victims not be identified because of the
possibility of retribution.

After the suspect was shot, he fled in the van. The husband followed
while calling the Sheriff’s Department on his cell phone, Russell said.
Eventually, the van overturned.

Watson was arrested without incident at the scene. Several items from
the victim’s home were found in the van, Russell said. He was initially
taken to Skaggs Community Health Center and later transferred to
Springfield.

One mystery in the case is how the suspect – who was not known by the
victims – got to the home, which is surrounded by farmland and is
about three-quarters of a mile from the highway. No vehicles other than
those belonging to the victims were found in the vicinity, Russell said.

It was also not immediately known how the suspect entered the home.

Taney County Prosecutor Rodney Daniels said Watson has been charged with
felony robbery, burglary, and two counts of stealing as well as assault
and two counts of armed criminal action. Bond was set at $250,000.

Russell said the victim acted in self-defense and would not face any
charges, though he said he does not advocate victims interacting with
criminals in that way.

“I don’t want to see people get involved unless they have to,” Russell
said.

Copyright ? 2001, The Springfield News-Leader

http://www.robertwaters.net