Homeowner who fatally shot teens after they broke into his back yard armed with handgun, machete — and fired at homeowner — won't be charged

Homeowner who fatally shot teens after they broke into his back yard armed with handgun, machete — and fired at homeowner — won't be charged - TheBlaze

NEWS

DAVE URBANSKI

October 24, 2022

   

The Colorado homeowner who fatally shot a pair of teenagers who broke into his 

Northglenn back yard armed with a handgun and machete — and fired at the homeowner — 

won't be charged.

What are the details?

Northglenn police and the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office last week said evidence showed the resident around 2 p.m. Oct. 2 saw an “unknown and uninvited male in their backyard cutting the leaves and branches of their marijuana plant with a machete," KDVR-TV reported in regard to the incident in the 11600 block of Pearl Street.

Police said the two males — 15 and 16 — broke a fence to gain entry into the backyard and tried to get into a garage-like structure attached to the home, the station said.

The resident then grabbed a .45-caliber handgun and went outside and yelled “Really? Get out of here” to the teens, who in response ran into a shed-like structure attached to the residence, KDVR said, citing the DA.

The resident said he was targeted with multiple gunshots, the station said.

“He saw muzzle flashes aimed in his direction and heard several gunshots come from inside the shed. The resident then returned fire. The two male teens were inside the shed when this exchange of gunfire occurred,” the DA and police said in their joint statement, KDVR said.

Both teens suffered gunshot wounds, the station said, adding that one died at the scene, while the other died at a hospital.

“The outcome of this incident is tragic. Two teenagers are dead, and their loss is heartbreaking. The District Attorney’s Office and the Northglenn Police Department must follow the law and the evidence, however, and the evidence clearly shows that the resident of the home acted in self-defense when he returned fire after being fired upon multiple times," officials said, KDVR reported. "Therefore, the resident will not be arrested or charged in this incident.”

The resident wasn't injured, the station said.

An airsoft gun that reportedly had been stolen from a nearby home was found with the teens but "was not a factor in the shooting," police told KUSA-TV.

Anything else?

Family members identified one of the teens as 16-year-old Ismael Cordova, KUSA said.

“He wasn’t a bad kid," Christina Cordova told KUSA of her son. "He was just making a dumb decision, and now he’s gone.”

Christina Cordova also told KUSA she doesn't believe her son or the other teen deserved to die.

“What they were doing in his yard by his house is not right, but that’s not the right way to handle it," Christina Cordova added to the station. "That’s not the right way to handle it.”