Just a few months after his brother was shot while walking their dog, former U.S. Marine Luigi Giovanni saw movement in security cameras outside their St. Louis Home.
Giovanni told local media he was playing video games one night last week when he noticed two individuals trespassing on his property and looking at his bicycles.
“I just happened to look up and that’s when I saw two guys coming over the fence,” Giovanni said.
The man grabbed his handgun and went out to confront the would-be robbers. Giovanni says he fired first, but he also said the robber fired back. Surveillance video does not appear to show Giovanni’s initial shot, nor is it clear when the suspect returned fire.
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“Right there behind the tree. Right when he was standing by the tree is when he fired. He shot real quick and then I shot back at them and he took off,” Giovanni explains.
In any case, Giovanni was right to believe that his house was the target of a robbery. Someone stole his trailer and his motorized quad bike late Monday night, and even though his cameras did not catch that theft, he believes the same individuals were behind it.
“I don’t understand why they picked us, why they picked us to do it,” he said.
He explained that the quad runner doesn’t hold much significance, but he “values and cherishes” the trailer because his uncle gave it to him before he died.
“I said I’ll repair it unc if you just give it to me. And he went ahead and gave me the trailer,” Giovanni said.
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St. Louis police weren’t able to find an official report of the incident, but surveillance video shows a squad car arriving on the scene a few minutes after shots were fired.
According to the St. Louis Crime Tracker, property crime in Benton Park West, the St. Louis neighborhood where Giovanni lives, is up 8.25% since last year. That number could be even higher if police routinely fail to file reports on incidents like this one.
Giovanni told local media he felt like his life was in danger, and that he would “do it again” if he catches trespassers on his property in the future.
“We have to be able to protect our property and our homes,” he said. “People work too hard for things for people coming in a stealing stuff.”
“Could have called the police”? You need another deep snort of that glue you are addicted to. Gun debate still raging? Only in the eyes of a Marxist extremist .
I hate to say it but, I can’t see any point in time where that would be safe points any sort of a firearm at the homeowner, let alone firing it… Not saying that it absolutely didn’t happen but… Definitely not a good look for the sensible pro 2A folks out there defending their home. Not saying that certain items don’t have some sentimental value, however, I’m sure as hell not going to risk my freedom for a goddamn bicycle…
That was an idiotic move to literally come out of the safety of your home (when you could have called the police) and fire at a person while he is walking away. I also did not see any weapon in his hand and the shooter could not claim disparity of force since the other gentleman was smaller, alone, not coming towards him or taking some sort of martial arts stance while shouting I’m going to kill you and approaching him. What a stupid thing to do while the gun debate rages on. He better hope that the local district Attorney doesn’t decide to make an example out of him and who in their right mind wants to potentially kill someone over a bicycle. Even if it was in self defense, if the situation was different, and he came outside the protection of his home he would probably be convicted and if not in criminal court you can bet your ass he would lose everything in a civil court case. I believe in the 2nd amendment, protecting your family, home and property but this is not the right way. Thanks for giving the anti-gun left more ammunition.
Don’t leave your valuables in plain view of the street where any light fingered liberator of your goods might take a fancy to them. Either built a high fence or place everything out of sight. If arrested this clown will claim you tempted him by your blatant display of wealth, and he can’t be blamed for succumbing to temptation.
I hope he has USCCA insurance. The suspect was off the property and could be considered no longer a threat, so he’s lucky he missed. It is sad that in this day and age you have to think that way, as there should be an open season on sneak thieves, but the law doesn’t side with the honest citizen anymore.