Woman Shoots Burglary Suspect Crime

A woman shot an alleged burglar in the chest with a revolver as he advanced on her in her home while she was reporting the break-in to police telephone operators, police said Friday.

The woman, Susan Kaleta, 47, was not injured, and has not been charged with a crime, Los Angeles Police Detective Rick Swanston said.

The alleged burglar, identified by police as Pablo Martinez, 28, also known as “Javier,” was taken to Northridge Hospital Medical Center where he was in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, police said.

Martinez’s injury is not life-threatening, but there is a danger of paralysis, authorities said. “When we were at the hospital this (Friday) morning, the doctors felt that he was paralyzed, but they need to do more tests to be sure,” said police Lt. George Rock.

The hospital would not discuss his condition.

Kaleta told investigators that she believed Martinez, who lived in a converted garage near her house, is the same man who had attempted to break into her house on two other occasions since December, Swanston said.

The incident Thursday began about 10:30 p.m. when Kaleta heard a noise in the front yard of her house in the 6800 block of Penfield Avenue, Swanston said.

When she looked out and saw a man trying to remove a screen on the bedroom window, police said, Kaleta screamed at him to leave, then hit the panic button of the burglar alarm.

Martinez was not frightened away however, and continued pulling the screen, setting off another alarm, Swanston said.

As the man climbed through the window and came down a hallway after her, police said, Kaleta got the .38-caliber revolver she keeps in the house for protection, and dialed 911.

Moments later, as Kaleta pointed the gun at Martinez, “She told him, ‘I’ve got a gun, go away,’ ” Swanston said.

Police said when the unarmed Martinez continued advancing, Kaleta shot him.

Neighbors said they heard at least three shots.

Martinez, a day laborer who rented a garage on Lubao Avenue one block east of Kaleta’s house, was booked on suspicion of burglary, police said.

On Friday, news of the shooting spread through the quiet neighborhood, where residents said crime was rare.

“When I heard about it, I couldn’t believe it,” said Veronica Castillo, 21, who lives across the street from Kaleta.