A bizarre home invasion in Manatee County, Florida ended in tragedy for one intruder and a serious warning from Sheriff Rick Wells: "If you want to break into someone's home, you should expect to be shot."
This incident occurred late Thursday when a homeowner started firing upon two masked males trying to break into his house. The fatal exchange brings once again to center stage a Second Amendment application that further solidifies homeowner rights regarding property protection.
Intruder Fatally Shot in Attempted Burglary
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office identified the dead intruder as Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toledo, 23, who was a Mexican national. He died from his injuries on Friday morning after he was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
The second suspect, Michel Soto-Mella, 39, an illegal immigrant from Chile, was taken into custody some blocks away from the scene. He is now facing charges on counts of armed burglary. Additional charges may be pressed on him.
Homeowner's Quick Action Saves Lives
According to the police, the homeowner saw the intruders on his video surveillance system around 9 pm. He realized the danger that was about to occur and immediately armed himself, telling his wife to get to safety.
The homeowner didn't hesitate and fired several rounds, striking Flores-Toledo multiple times and sending Soto-Mella fleeing for his life. Neighbor John Nuceder, who was visiting family nearby, claimed to have heard three separate gunshots during the struggle.
Sheriff's Warning to Thieves: Don't Mess with Florida
At a news conference, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells took the opportunity to remind individuals that property owners can legally defend their property.
This is Florida," Wells said. "If you want to break into someone's house, you can expect to get shot."
Tracking Down the Surviving Suspect
Soto-Mella, who is alleged to have overstayed a 90-day visa back in September, was arrested after being tracked down using K9 units. Authorities add that he did not have any firearms on him upon capture.
A History of Criminal Activity
Inspectors said Flores-Toledo, aka Anibal Miller-Valencia, had a lengthy criminal history. He was arrested in 2023 in Oak Brook, Illinois for residential burglary and did four months in jail. He was paroled in November. Authorities had listed him as wanted for parole violation and "armed and dangerous.".
Ongoing Investigation
Detectives are now researching the backgrounds of both suspects to find out why this particular house was targeted. Sheriff Wells says Soto-Mella has been "somewhat cooperative" but has not disclosed everything yet.
It declined to identify the homeowner at this time, and there were no indications of pending charges against him. They also assured the community that all individuals involved in this incident have been accounted for and pose no further threat.
Florida Homeowners and the Right to Self-Defense
This case points to the risks faced by felons in Florida, as state laws give much latitude to the homeowner to protect his family and property. It serves as a grave warning to potential intruders: unlawful entry into someone's home may come with fatal consequences.