SULTAN, Wash. — A 75-year-old man is recovering in the hospital after police say he was stabbed by a man who broke into his home. His 80-year-old wife then grabbed a gun and shot the intruder dead, police say.
This all happened at their home near Sultan in rural Snohomish County.
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Rick Cross is the couple’s good friend who lives down the road.
"She's rattled. She didn't get much sleep, of course," says Cross. "I am surprised how well she's doing."
Police say around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, a 25-year-old man from Gold Bar broke into the home on the 13000 block of Woods Lake Road with the intent of burglary.
Deputies say he then stabbed the 75-year-old homeowner before his 80-year-old wife raced to protect him.
"The wife arms herself and shoots the suspect," says Shari Ireton, with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. "Right now, it looks like a random burglary, but major crimes is investigating."
KIRO 7’s Patranya Bhoolsuwan called the home and the 80-year-old woman, who says her name is Barbara Moles. She didn’t want to do an on-camera interview, but she tells Patranya that her husband, Leland (John) Moles, is in stable condition at Harborview Hospital in Seattle.
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She says police knew of the suspect and that he had problems in drugs. She says the man was going through her vitamins thinking they were drugs.
Authorities say the couple’s 45-year-old son was home at the time. He was not hurt.
He told KIRO 7 he went to bed early Thursday and was asleep during the incident.
He says he’s proud of his mother for what she did.
Cross says this neighborhood is quite safe and didn't believe the crime was random. He says the couple was likely targeted because of their age.
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