Alabama: Chelsea man shoots armed intruder to death after being tied

Posted on 03/01/2005 6:07:19 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
CHELSEA, Ala. - An armed, masked intruder was shot to death by a Chelsea man who managed to free himself after he was tied up and his wife held at gunpoint during a robbery in their home, Shelby County authorities said.
Sheriff Chris Curry said a female accomplice was arrested while attempting to flee the scene.
Sheriff's officers did not immediately release the name of the man who killed the intruder during the home invasion about 2 a.m. Sunday. The suspected burglar was identified as William Clint O'Shields, 25, of Chelsea.
O'Shields' alleged accomplice, Rebecca Lynn Cockerham, 20, was charged Monday with capital murder and robbery. She lived with O'Shields in Chelsea and indicated that the two were married, authorities said.
Investigators said O'Shields was a suspect in another home invasion robbery that occurred in Westover on Saturday in which a man in his 80s was tied up and several guns were taken.
Curry said the Chelsea homeowner and his wife were awakened by the sound of shattering glass as O'Shields broke a glass door to a side porch and entered their house.
After the homeowner was tied up, O'Shields took the man's wife to another part of the house and started taking electronics, jewelry and other items, the sheriff said.
O'Shields was in a different room when the homeowner broke free and got a pistol he had in his house.
Curry said the homeowner shot O'Shields when the intruder returned to the area where the homeowner had been tied.
"If you're in your house, your own home, you're going to have a lot of freedom to protect yourself, especially your wife, your family and property," said Shelby County District Attorney Robby Owens.