I'm glad you're gone and you won't be missed.

All these freaking hyphens.

'You should expect to be shot': Florida homeowner fatally guns down masked intruder, scares off another

A Florida sheriff said intruders should "expect to be shot" after releasing information about a homeowner who opened fire at two masked men trying to break into his house, killing one.

The deceased suspect was identified as 23-year-old Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toledo, from Mexico, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office.

The second suspect, Michel Soto-Mella, 39, an illegal immigrant from Chile, is charged with armed burglary, with additional charges pending, according to the sheriff's office.

Just after 9 p.m. Thursday, the Manatee County homeowner saw the two men entering the back of his house on his video surveillance system, according to authorities.

"He knew something bad was about to happen and he didn’t stall," MCSO Sheriff Rick Wells said during a press conference Friday. "He grabbed his firearm [and] told his wife to get into a safe spot."

The homeowner fired multiple rounds, hitting Flores-Toledo "several times," while Soto-Mella fled the scene, according to the sheriff's office.

"I sat down next to the lanai, the door was open," John Nuceder, who was visiting a family member in the neighborhood, told Fox 13. "I vividly heard three gunshots."

Authorities said Flores-Toledo was initially reported to be in critical condition before being transported to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he died Friday morning.

"This is the state of Florida," Wells said. "If you want to break into someone's home, you should expect to be shot."

Deputies tracked down Soto-Mella, who was in the country illegally after his 90-day visa expired in September, using K9 units and arrested him a few blocks away, according to the sheriff's office. The scene was secured and everyone involved was accounted for, posing no threat to the community.

Detectives are currently investigating Flores-Toledo's background and are "seeking to understand" why he and Soto-Mella targeted the home, according to a statement released by the sheriff's office Friday afternoon.

"We're trying to get everything that we can from the [surviving] suspect," Wells said. "He's being somewhat cooperative, but he's not telling us everything."

At a court hearing, Fox 13 reported Soto-Mella used a translator to tell the judge he did not have any guns.

Manatee County homicide detectives said they believe there may be other individuals involved in the crime.

Flores-Toledo, who also went by the name of Anibal Miller-Valencia, was arrested in Oak Brook, Illinois in 2023 and served four months in jail for residential burglary before being released on parole in November, according to authorities. He had an active warrant for a parole violation and was considered "armed and dangerous."

The guy that lived should be charged with the death of the dead accomplice. I hope Florida has that law.

Florida Sheriff's don't play. Love living here.

Realizing the very high probability of being shot dead entering someone's home unexpectedly and uninvited should be common sense at the most basic level. If this does not occur to you and deter you from doing so you have already lived too long.

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
The guy that lived should be charged with the death of the dead accomplice. I hope Florida has that law.

They do but they have to show that at least one of crooks was armed with something; gun, knife or had plans to attack/hurt/kill anyone they found inside the house. They may have recovered a gun but need to test fire it to make sure it was a "functioning weapon". Sometimes it takes a couple days to get it all done to the Prosecutor's satisfaction.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
The guy that lived should be charged with the death of the dead accomplice. I hope Florida has that law.

They do but they have to show that at least one of crooks was armed with something; gun, knife or had plans to attack/hurt/kill anyone they found inside the house. They may have recovered a gun but need to test fire it to make sure it was a "functioning weapon". Sometimes it takes a couple days to get it all done to the Prosecutor's satisfaction.

I don't believe that's the case in FL (granted, it's been 20 years since I was a deputy there, laws could have changed) - you only need to be party to a violent felony to be charged, possesion of a weapon is not a factor.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
The guy that lived should be charged with the death of the dead accomplice. I hope Florida has that law.

They do but they have to show that at least one of crooks was armed with something; gun, knife or had plans to attack/hurt/kill anyone they found inside the house. They may have recovered a gun but need to test fire it to make sure it was a "functioning weapon". Sometimes it takes a couple days to get it all done to the Prosecutor's satisfaction.

Considering how many murder victims die from hands/feet/blunt objects, that’s seems like a goofy distinction some DA has.

Admittedly, I think most traditional felonies should be eligible for life at hard labor.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
…was considered "armed and dangerous."

Proper usage of tense and a happy ending.

Welcome to Florida, asshole(s). We are a free state. And we take it seriously.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
The guy that lived should be charged with the death of the dead accomplice. I hope Florida has that law.

They do but they have to show that at least one of crooks was armed with something; gun, knife or had plans to attack/hurt/kill anyone they found inside the house. They may have recovered a gun but need to test fire it to make sure it was a "functioning weapon". Sometimes it takes a couple days to get it all done to the Prosecutor's satisfaction.

I don’t believe that’s accurate. The felony murder rule basically states if you commit a felony and someone dies, you are criminally liable for that death. The accomplish is likely to face felony murder charges in the above case. Having or not having a weapon is not a factor.

It's so sad (sarcasm), he would have been alive and deported had they just stayed out of trouble for the next 21 days

And a happy ending was enjoyed by all…well almost all!

I am not a lawyer or involved with the legal system in any way, but my guess is that they hold the murder charge over his head to get him to plead to some lesser charge, thus avoiding a trial.

Saw this on heavy duty country last evening. I think he said they had crow bars when they got inside. They were obviously there to do some late night home repairs.

I suspect it's covered in here somewhere.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Sta...ctions/0782.051.html

In Georgia, if you are committing a felony and anyone is killed, a victim, accomplice, etc., you are charged with Felony Murder.
This is Florida but they likely have it in there too.