Homeowner shoots, kills 72-year-old suspected intruder in Yulee

YULEE, Fla. — A Yulee homeowner told the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office that he shot and killed a 72-year-old man who kicked in his door early Monday morning.

The shooting happened on Miner Road near Yulee Elementary School off A1A around 6:30 a.m.

Nassau County Sheriff's Office identified the suspected home intruder who was shot as Timothy William Rasbeary of Yulee.

“[The door] was pushed in and had a small lock on it that was pushed in. So someone did break into the house, and the individual that did come in was shot,” said Nassau County Sheriff Bill Leeper.

Leeper said the homeowner’s 6- or 7-year-old sons were asleep in his bedroom when his father shot the suspected intruder.

Leeper said a woman, who was a friend of the homeowner’s, was also there.

Deputies are investigating whether anyone in that home knew the suspected intruder.

Leeper said a black van that was towed out of the yard on Monday afternoon belonged to the man who was shot.

He said the suspected intruder was killed with one shot from the homeowner’s pistol.

“If somebody had awakened me at the dead of night, breaking into my home, and if I had a gun, unfortunately, I would have probably shot them too,” said Teresa Miner Burch, whose daughter lives right down the street.

Burch was frustrated -- and not just because the taped off road meant she was delayed getting to her daughter’s Fourth of July cook-out.

Burch said Miner Road was named after her father, she grew up on it, and it’s frustrating to see this kind of crime happen here.

“My daughter lives down here. I’m a Miner. We’ve been here for years, and years, and years and never had these issues. And yeah, it’s very scary,” said Miner.

Leeper said the ones who should be scared are would-be intruders.

“If someone breaks in, that’s a possibility that they’re going to accept, is somebody’s going to be shooting them. So I would suggest not to break into homes,” said Leeper.

Leeper said it appears the suspected intruder was not armed.

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