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Police: Woman shot suspect in self-defense

EDMONDS, Wash. — Thanksgiving morning police say a mother shot an intruder who was trying to break in to her Edmonds home.

It happened in the 16400 block of 75th Avenue West, in a house overlooking Puget Sound.

After pounding at her door at 3:15am, police said the 22-year-old suspect tried to force his way inside.

"They thought they knew this person, by the pounding on the door," Sgt. Bob Barker said. "That's why it was open initially. Then they realized it wasn't, they tried to push him out, it didn't work

When she knew she couldn't keep him out the woman fired one shot hitting the suspect in the stomach, detectives said.

The woman's husband and children, ages 14, 10, and 5, were in the home along with a friend of the 14-year-old. They called 911 before the mother shot the suspect, detectives said.

Officers who arrived at the scene treated the suspect before he was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

It is not believed that the suspect knew the woman or anyone else inside the home. Neighbors think it is possible the suspect was looking for someone who used to live in the house. The home is for sale and is being leased out month by month in the meantime. 

No one inside the home was hurt.

The suspect is being investigated for burglary and had surgery at Harborview for the gunshot wound. The woman who fired the shot is not under investigation -- police say it was self-defense.

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