West Texas Homeowner Shoots, Kills Intruder

SLATON, Texas (AP) _ One person is dead and two others are wounded after a homeowner fatally shot an intruder after interrupting an apparent burglary of his West Texas home.

Fred Melcher was in critical condition and Edith Ayers was in serious condition at a Lubbock hospital after the intruder shot them Thursday.

Melcher, 69, said he and Ayers, 51, entered Melcher’s home to find the man inside his house in Slaton, 16 miles southwest of Lubbock. Melcher told KCBD-TV of Lubbock that he knew the man and believed the house was being robbed.

Melcher also was hit in the head with a hammer as he struggled with the intruder before shooting him, fatally.

The identity of the dead man hasn’t been released. Police are continuing to investigate.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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