Store owner shoots, kills wall-tunneling burglar

An Albuquerque store owner is claiming self-defense after he shot and killed a would-be burglar who allegedly dug a tunnel through the wall of his business over the weekend.

The owner, who was not identified, told KOB 4 News that he was sleeping in his smoke shop in the International District Saturday when he was awoken at about 3 a.m. by a scratching sound in the wall.

One hour later, a man wielding a large hammer and what looked like an ax burst through the wall.

The shop owner claims he grabbed his gun and told the man to get out, only for the intruder to come toward him. The businessman said he then opened fire and called the police.

The trespasser was dead by the time first responders arrived, authorities said. Police are now investigating the incident as a justifiable homicide.

The store owner said he started sleeping in the shop after two prior break-in attempts before the location was even open for business. He was also concerned about a hole in the wall that was just big enough for a person to fit through.

Images from the inside of the store show the gaping hole with insulation and drywall pulled away.

After this weekend’s incident, he told KOB 4, he is patching up the hole and will be installing cameras.