92-year-old WWII Veteran Scares Off Ax-Wielding Burglar in Calif.

A 92-year-old homeowner armed with a handgun fired a shot and scared off an ax-wielding man trying to break into his San Jacinto, Calif., residence Sunday, authorities said.

World War II veteran Joseph Milspaugh told KNBC that he heard a noise coming from his back door and quickly armed himself with his handgun. When he went to investigate, he saw a man smashing an ax through one of his windows.

“I let off a shot and he took off,” Milspaugh told the news station with a laugh. “He left his ax. He left his hat and everything else after that.”

The incident occurred around 11 a.m., according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

“As the homeowner approached the door, he suddenly saw an exterior glass window of the home shatter, followed by the suspect attempting to crawl into his home through the window,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

Milspaugh told KCBS that he had a clear shot, but decided not to fire directly at the intruder.

“I didn’t want to do that,” he told the station. “I’d be in trouble.”

Sheriff’s officials are now looking for the would-be burglar.