Police: 89-Year-Old Fires Gun At Intruder

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Des Moines police said Tuesday that a woman scared   off a burglar after he broke into her home. Police   said they were called to 1300 block of Idaho Street on a burglary in   progress around 5:30 a.m.  Officers said they found Nelson McAlpine, 36,   standing in the front yard of the home.  They said he matched the   description of the burglar and was detained.Officers went inside   the home and met with the homeowner, Beatrice Turner, 89, who said that   she heard and saw McAlpine punching her front door and putting a hole in   it."He kicked this, he broke all this out.  And then he kicked   all this out.  See, and all this here," said Turner.Turner told   police that she grabbed her 22 cal. pistol and confronted the burglar   and then shot once at him once inside the home.  The bullet did not hit   McAlpine.  "After   he start kicking the door, that’s when I got my gun.  And that’s when   he stood there.  And that’s when I fired my shot, you know.  The Lord   was with me, I never got scared," said Turner.Turner told KCCI   that she was aiming at McAlpine."The next thing I knew, he was in   here.  Right there.  And that’s when I grabbed my gun and I stood right   there in my bedroom door with my gun and I said I’m going to kill you!"   said Turner.  "I was trying to hit him in the head, but I guess my   bullet missed him.  But if it had cocked him again, I’d have got him."Turner   told police that McAlpine quickly left the home."I must not have   been a dang good shot, because I must have missed him!" said Turner.    “I think the Lord was watching over me."McAlpine was charged with   second-degree burglary.  He's being held on $10,000 bond in the Polk   County Jail."This is a .22.  And the police reloaded it for me,"   said Turner.  "I know how to work that gun.  I just hope and pray to God   it don't happen again."

"This is a .22.  And the police reloaded it for me,"   said Turner.  "I know how to work that gun.  I just hope and pray to God   it don't happen again."