When an ax-wielding burglar tried to break into Joseph Milspaugh's home on Sunday morning, the 92-year-old World War II veteran didn't hesitate to defend himself.
When Milspaugh, of San Jacinto, California, heard the suspect trying to break into his home in the 1400 block of Chase Street, he armed himself with his model 1911 .45 caliber handgun.
As the suspect smashed the door with his ax and tried to crawl into the house, Milspaugh wasted no time and fired off one round from his handgun at the suspect.
"It's stupid what he did," Milspaugh said. "Being a Sunday, he assumed that people would be going shopping or going to church and no one would be home, that it would be a good time to break in."
The suspect, who San Jacinto police believe was not hit, immediately fled the scene, but left behind his ax and several other items.
"I could have shot him straight in the head, right between the eyes, but I didn't want to do that because I'd have been in trouble," Milspaugh said.
Anyone with information regarding the suspect is encouraged to call the San Jacinto Police Department at 951-654-2702.
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Editor's note: A previous version of the story incorrectly identified the model of the gun.
