Shooting of Suspect Called Self-Defense

Calling the incident a case of self-defense, police said it is unlikely a 20-year-old Ventura resident will be arrested in the shooting of a man who allegedly returned to rob his apartment for the third time in three days.

William Stubbert, 20, fired twice as Anthony Coleman, 32, entered Stubbert’s apartment about 8:20 p.m. Monday, striking him in the leg and torso, police said.

“It looks like self-defense against a home invasion robber,” said Ventura Police Sgt. Bob Anderson. “Obviously the residents had reason to fear this man.”

Authorities said Coleman went to the apartment in hopes of robbing Stubbert and roommate Julian Sandoval for the third time since Saturday.

Coleman was one of two men suspected of bursting into the second-story apartment in the 300 block of South Hurst Street on Saturday afternoon. The robbers held the residents at bay with a knife while gathering about $5,200 in clothing and other items, police said.

The spree continued Monday when Coleman returned with another man about 1:35 p.m. and confronted the two residents outside their apartment and demanded their wallets, police said. They entered the residence, this time stealing a gun the men had borrowed for protection, police said.

Stubbert and Sandoval were home nearly seven hours later talking with neighbors about what to do if the robbers should return when Coleman knocked on the door, authorities said. Armed with a .22 caliber handgun, Stubbert opened the door.

“They were thinking, ‘We have a gun, we can hold him until police get here,’ ” Anderson said. “But he came at [Stubbert] in an aggressive manner. So, out of fear, he shot him.”

Coleman was listed in serious but stable condition Tuesday at Ventura County Medical Center. Upon his release he is expected to be booked on a parole violation and suspicion of robbery, Anderson said.