Home Invader Shot by Owner
Lexington County, South Carolina – A home invader was shot after breaking into a home wearing a mask and wielding a shotgun.
According to Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon, 26-year-old Michael Nowinski was dropped off at a home in West Columbia by his accomplice, 26-year-old Joel Adolphus Hendrix III.
“Based on interviews detectives have conducted during our investigation, Nowinski entered a Greenwood Drive home wearing a mask and armed with a shotgun,” Sheriff Koon said.
Officers soon uncovered why Nowinski chose this particular residence, to steal a safe he knew was in the home.
Nowinski forced his way inside and began attempting to intimidate the residents, striking three people with the butt of his shotgun before someone got to a gun and shot him in the chest.
Deputies responding to the scene tracked him down a short distance away from the home and he was taken to a local hospital before being discharged. Police were waiting when doctors gave the nod Nowinski was medically cleared, then arrested the Lexington man.
Left: Nowinski, Hendrix Photo: Lexington County Sheriff’s Office
“He was treated for a gunshot wound immediately by deputies and then transported for further medical attention,” Koon said. “Deputies arrested him right after he was discharged from the hospital Sunday.”
Hendrix, who is accused of conspiring to commit the burglary, was also located and arrested. Both men are charged with armed robbery, three counts of assault and battery, burglary, criminal conspiracy, four counts of kidnapping, and are being held in the Lexington County Detention Center.
One lesson that can be taken away from this incident is:
Make sure to keep information about the valuables in your home to a need-to-know basis. The more people you tell about items an intruder might like to steal, like a safe, the more likely it is that someone will want to break into your home.
Read here for the Complete Home Defense – Tactics For Defending Your Castle and brush up on the latest tactics and techniques of home defense.
