Florida Homeowner Kills Intruder in Self-Defense, Injures Another

Florida Homeowner Defends Home, Kills One Intruder, Injures Another

A Florida homeowner took swift action Thursday night, shooting two intruders, killing one and injuring the other, according to authorities.

The incident occurred in the Lakewood Ranch area, where the homeowner detected two masked individuals on his motion-activated home surveillance cameras. Acting quickly, he instructed his wife to hide, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells explained during a press conference on Friday.

After securing his wife’s safety, the homeowner armed himself and confronted the intruders as they broke into his home.

One of the suspects, Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toldeo, 27, originally from Mexico, was shot multiple times. He later died from his injuries. According to Fox 13, Flores-Toldeo had an active warrant for a parole violation and was considered armed and dangerous.

In 2023, Flores-Toldeo served a four-month jail sentence for residential burglary and had been released on parole just last month.

“This is the state of Florida. If you want to break into someone’s home, you should expect to be shot,” Sheriff Wells warned during the press briefing. He praised the homeowner’s decisive response, saying, “He knew something bad was about to happen, and he didn’t stall. He grabbed his firearm and told his wife to get into a safe spot.”

The second intruder, Michael Soto-Mella, 39, was apprehended a few blocks away with the assistance of a K9 unit.

Soto-Mella, a Chilean national, is in the United States illegally, having overstayed his visa, which expired in September, according to Fox 13. He has been charged with armed burglary, and additional charges are expected.