Police: Union Twp. homeowner shoots intruder

A homeowner shot and wounded an intruder during an attempted robbery early Wednesday, Union Township police said.

Two juveniles, 16 and 17, and a 24-year-old man broke into a home in the 4000 block of Grandview Avenue about 2:30 a.m., said Sgt. Jeff Brown.

The Union Township homeowner grabbed a gun to defend himself from the would-be robbers and shot the 24-year-old while the other two took off in a vehicle.

"The homeowner woke up to a tussle, to sounds of a disturbance, and he defended himself by firing a shot and injuring one of the suspects," the sergeant said. "Nothing is clear-cut until our investigation runs its course, but preliminary investigation indicates this was a homeowner defending his property. But, things aren't always as they seem, unfortunately, in our line of work."

The wounded suspect, identified as Demetrius Robinson of Cincinnati, staggered door to door pleading for help while neighbors called 911.

Responding officers found him walking down the road. He was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he is undergoing surgery, Brown said.

Lt. Scott Gaviglia said the wounds are life-threatening.

Robinson will be criminally charged once his medical condition is fully known, Gaviglia said.

Meanwhile, police developed suspect information on the two juveniles who fled the scene and tracked them by tracing pings on a cellphone to a nearby parking lot in the 400 block of Kaldy Street.

They were sitting in a vehicle and taken into custody.

The 16-year-old male juvenile was charged with felonious assault, aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary.

The 17-year-old female juvenile was charged with complicity to aggravated robbery and complicity to aggravated burglary.

The handgun used in the offense was recovered at the house.

Brown credited fast police work and the community's help with quickly apprehending the suspects.

"To have a crime of this nature at this time of night and for us to apprehend all parties in under 30 minutes is very impressive," he said. "I couldn't be more proud of the job we did - and the community. It was a true team effort."