Ellwood City man, 84, fatally shoots a home intruder

Associated Press

ELLWOOD CITY, PA.

An 84-year-old city man fatally shot a home intruder and successfully fought off another early Friday, police said.

Don Lutz was jolted awake about 1:15 a.m. Friday by the sound of people coming into his home and emerged from his bedroom armed with a handgun that he said he keeps under his pillow, authorities said.

One of the intruders grabbed Lutz, police said, so he fired a shot from point- blank range into the man’s chest then started to tussle with both men on the floor of his kitchen.

“I just fired one [round]. It was in the dark. He attacked me and he was up close, and I shot him,” Lutz told TV station WPXI.

“They jumped me, and we both went on the floor.”

As the man Lutz shot rolled off him and died, the other ran out the front door.

“The other one, maybe the bullet hit him, too. I don’t know. I hope so,” Lutz told WPXI.

A city police lieutenant said the department hasn’t yet identified either suspect.

Lutz, who told authorities he previously served in the military, didn’t suffer any injuries.

“I’m a little sore from scuffling with them,” he told the TV station.