Story Archive

Backfire

An unidentified 49-year-old man in Elkton, Md., was spooked after his best friend’s house was burgled, police say. His friend, 43 and also unidentified, said that it’s easy to be a victim and told his older buddy he needed to be prepared. Later, the older man “was at his residence with his 9-year-old [child] when he heard his door knob jiggling,” said Cecil County Sheriff Lt. Michael Holmes. It was nearly 2:00 a.m., so the man grabbed a pistol. As he moved to the door it burst open and a man ran in, growling like an animal. He raised the gun and fired at the menacing figure. “He shot his best friend in the chest at close range,” Holmes said — his buddy was pulling a prank to illustrate his points to his friend. The man is expected to survive, and the homeowner won’t be charged, police say. (RC/Cecil Whig) ...No worries, then: his friend is much better prepared than he had thought.