Fed Up With Burglars, Man Buys Gun, Uses It That Night

Criminals appear most interested in senior citizen Harvey Lembo's meds
By Elizabeth Armstrong Moore,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 3, 2015 7:40 AM CDT
Fed Up With Burglars, Man Buys Gun, Uses It That Night
File photo. Harvey Lembo says he actually used a Russian-made revolver.   (David Proeber/The Pantagraph via AP)

Earlier this week, Harvey Lembo decided enough was enough. After five burglaries in his Maine home in six years—most recently last month when $1,000 and medications were stolen—the retired lobsterman bought what he describes as a 7mm Russian-made revolver on Monday. Hours later, he used it, reports CBS News. Lembo, 67 and wheelchair-bound, says he awoke late Monday to the sound of an intruder and saw a shadow pass his kitchen. He took the gun out from under his pillow and confronted the man, who was looking through his medications, reports the Bangor Daily News. "I told him to sit down while I called police or I would blow his brains out."

But while Lembo was on the phone, he says the man tried to flee, so Lembo shot him in the shoulder. Police found 45-year-old Christopher Wildhaber, who has two prior domestic violence convictions, thanks to the trail of blood. After initially saying they don't expect Lembo to be charged, police are now saying the decision lies with the district attorney, who has yet to issue a decision on the matter. No word on just how Lembo's apartment was so easy to break into, but a warning to those who think he's an easy target: "They're going to have the same treatment," Lembo says. "And one of them might be worse. Might be fatal. 'Cause I ain't messing around no more." (Check out what made this burglary suspect cry in court.)

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