BOULDER, Colo. — A suspected home intruder was shot and killed by a homeowner Monday night after shattering a glass screen door and getting into a fight with the man, the Boulder Police Department said.
The coroner identified the dead man Tuesday as 19-year-old Roberto Zamora. FOX31 Denver confirmed Zamora was a student at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Investigators said the Zamora came through the front glass door of the home at 98 Pima Court about 8:40 p.m. At that point, he and the man inside got into a fight before the homeowner shot the suspect in the chest, killing him.
Boulder police said there were several disturbances in the neighborhood involving the suspect before the shooting. Witnesses told police the suspect had tried to break into a number of homes, “yelling at residents and banging on their doors and windows as he tried to gain entry into their houses,” police said in a news release.
A man and a woman were in the home at 98 Pima Court. Police said the couple was watching television when they heard the suspect banging on a window at the back of the house. The man told police he had the woman call 911 while he retrieved his handgun.
Police said Zamora went to the front of the house and was banging on a glass screen door. It eventually shattered and the suspect burst through the front door. The man inside the home was standing near the front door when the suspect entered. Police said the suspect attacked the man, knocking him to the ground and a fight ensued.
“The male occupant told police that he feared for his life,” police said in the news release.
The man was able to fire a single shot from his handgun, striking the suspect in the chest. Zamora was pronounced dead when police arrived.
The man and the woman, who have not been identified by police, “fully cooperated” with the investigation, police said. Neighbors said the man has lived in the some for some time.
“Probably the most known person here,” neighbor David Brower said. “He’s been here, he was very helpful cleaning up after the floods, does a lot of work for the HOA, contractor. So it’s very surprising. Shocking.”
Under Colorado’s “Make My Day” law, a homeowner has the right to shoot a home invader if they feel their life or the lives of anyone in the home is at jeopardy, though that has to be determined by the district attorney.
A decision will be made on if there will be any charges in the next few days by detectives who are working in conjunction with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office.
The man and the woman have been released by police.
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