A Florida sheriff praised a homeowner who fatally shot a would-be burglar and scared off his illegal immigrant accomplice after they broke into his home in Manatee County Thursday.
According to a Fox 13 report, the Florida man’s surveillance system picked up motion late at night on the side of the house. Upon realizing there were two masked men in that location, he urged his wife to seek a safe place while he grabbed his gun.
When all was said and done, Jorge Nestevan Flores-Toledo, a 27-year-old from Mexico, had been shot several times and had to be rushed to nearby Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Flores-Toledo’s accomplice, identified as 39-year-old Michel Soto-Mella, fled the scene but was later tracked down by K-9 dogs. It was determined that Soto-Mella was an illegal immigrant from Chile.
Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells provided updates to the public, including a line that makes it clear to would-be criminals that going the ‘FAFO’ route in the Sunshine State is ill-advised.
“This is the state of Florida,” Wells said. “If you want to break into someone’s home, you should expect to be shot.”
“I praise this husband for doing what he needed to do to protect his home and protect his family,” he added. “And if you’re going to be that brazen to come into my home, once again, you should expect that you’re going to be shot.”
Manatee County, Florida Sheriff Rick Wells on home invasion:
“I praise this husband for doing what he needed to do to protect his home and protect his family. If you’re gonna be that brazen to come into my home… you should expect that you’re gonna be shot.”
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/HoxFIMtF9F
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 27, 2024
Sheriff Wells went on to hail the Florida man as a hero for his quick thinking in addressing the two masked men, especially when he had a family that could have been hurt or killed at the hands of these ill-intentioned criminals.
“He knew something bad was about to happen, and he didn’t stall. He grabbed his firearm, told his wife to get into a safe spot,” Wells explained.
Flores-Toledo had a criminal past, having been arrested in Oak Brook, Illinois, in 2023, according to Fox 13. He served four months in prison for a similar burglary before being released on parole in November of this year.
He was considered “armed and dangerous.”
Fortunately, this homeowner was also armed.
READ MORE: Armed Florida Citizen Stopping Assailant Shows Why ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws Are Critical
Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law allows individuals to use deadly force in self-defense without the duty to retreat if they reasonably believe it’s necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. It does not need to be applied only to a situation at home.
RedState previously covered the importance of such a law regarding an incident in Escambia County, Florida, in which a break-in led to a violent beating of a 47-year-old woman.
The woman was able to contact her family. Her brother arrived only to have a gun drawn on him, and he quickly responded by fatally shooting the assailant.
These cases highlight the importance of laws preventing the government from punishing you for using a firearm to protect your life and property, leaving homeowners in Florida confident in their right to self-defense.
As for the illegal who escaped with his life in the previous case, Sheriff Wells indicates he hasn’t exactly been completely forthcoming as to why the two men targeted this particular house.
“We’re trying to get everything that we can from the [surviving] suspect,” Wells said. “He’s being somewhat cooperative, but he’s not telling us everything.”
RedState will provide updates on this case as they become available.
