Police Pondering Future of 80-Year-Old who Shot Intruder as She Ran Away

Authorities today pondered the future of an 80-year-old man who says he shot to death a woman who was running away after ransacking his home in Bixby Knolls even though she told him she was pregnant.

Appearing to evince no regret, Tom Greer told NBC4 Wednesday night that he shot the woman twice in the back as she was fleeing with a male accomplice.

"She says, 'Don't shoot me, I'm pregnant -- I'm going to have a baby.' And I shot her anyway," Greer said. "The lady didn't run as fast as the man so I shot her in the back twice, she's dead ... but he got away."

There was no immediate confirmation of the pregnancy, but the Los Angeles County coroner's office planned to perform an autopsy on the woman today.

Long Beach police told CBS2 that they are investigating whether Greer should face charges for Tuesday night's shooting in the 3900 block of Country Club Drive.

Even though the woman was running away, Greer said he regards what he did as self-defense. He said he arrived at home Tuesday night to find a couple in the middle of a late-night break-in.

"When I went in there, they tackled me," Greer told NBC4. "Both of them jumped up on top of me."

Greer's home had been burglarized before, according to a neighbor.

Greer was treated at a hospital Wednesday for a severe shoulder and collarbone injury, NBC4 reported.

--City News Service