Published: March 04, 2009 03:05 pm      

UPDATE: Alleged intruder shot, killed in Rusk Street home

Staff Report

The victim of an early morning shooting had reportedly broken into a house on South Rusk Street and was assaulting a 34-year-old male in the home, when a resident shot and killed the alleged assailant. Robert Earl Bardwell was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
Weatherford Police report officers were dispatched to the 500 block of South Rusk Street at approximately 1:13 a.m. in regards to the shooting. 
The initial investigation showed Bardwell went into the house without consent of the resident and assaulted his 34-year-old son. 
The resident, identified as a 66-year-old white male, attempted to warn the assailant by firing one shot from an automatic pistol into the ceiling. However, when Bardwell reportedly failed to heed the warning and continued to assault his son; the resident shot the intruder, fatally wounding him.
Police say the 66-year-old has not been arrested.
Whether the shooting was self-defense or a criminal offense will be determined by the Grand Jury.