Attempted burglar shot to death by homeowner in Smyrna

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Smyrna police said an attempted burglar was shot to death by a homeowner in Smyrna on Sunday night.

This is the second time a homeowner has shot someone attempting to break into a home in Smyrna in less than a month.

Channel 2′s Michell Newell was in Smyrna, where officers received reports of a person shot in the area of Lochloman Lane and Highland Drive around 7:30 p.m.

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Police have not released the identities of the burglar or the homeowner. They did tell Newell that they believe the homeowner was acting in self-defense.

Newell attempted to talk to the homeowner, but he didn’t want to be interviewed.

A neighbor said they heard gunshots and then police swarmed their neighborhood.

“Hearing the news of it being an actual burglary and someone actually getting hurt is alarming,” the neighbor said. He didn’t want his face shown on TV, but said that his nieces, nephews, and other children in the neighborhood were shaken up.

“They were all crying and not understanding what was happening,” he said. “Mostly, like this is sd. I can’t believe this happened. For the most part, this is a safe community.”

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Last month, a woman shot and killed a man who forced his way into her Smyrna apartment. That shooting happened at the Alder Park Apartments on Cumberland Way.

Police said the man started beating on the woman’s door and then broke through the window.

It’s unclear if the woman and man knew each other.

The two shootings were less than two miles apart and less than two miles from Truist Park.

The investigation into the most recent shooting is ongoing.

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