Victim's Family Says Shooting is Not What It Seems
By: Lynn Adler
Updated: January 18, 2012
ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, BLAIR COUNTY - Police say the man was pounding on the window of another man's house late Friday night when the homeowner opened fire.
"He might not make it. It's not good," said the shooting victims' father, Don Zeth.
Brandon Zeth, 24, is on life support at Altoona Regional. His lungs collapsed and bullets still remain lodged in his spine and throat.
"We don't know if he is going to live or if he is going to die, just because this man shot him outside on his porch," Zeth said. Adding, "I want to show that picture so everybody sees what he did to that boy for being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Zeth was shot five times Friday night, twice in his arms and three times in his chest.
Police said he was shot on the back porch of a home on Cunningham Lane in Allegheny Township around midnight. The homeowner thought Zeth was an intruder and opened fire through the window with a 22 caliber gun.
"It was fearful time of night and not knowing what this guy exactly wanted," Allegheny Township Police Chief P. Richard Books said.
Zeth's father said his son never intended to go to that house.
"He was going to his girlfriend's house," Zeth said. "He was intoxicated. He went up the wrong deck and pounded on the wrong window and was shot."
Brandon Zeth's girlfriend's house sits some 60 yards away from the home where Zeth was shot.
The two houses are both yellow, high houses with long wooden decks stretching across the back.
Zeth's father says his son thought the window he was banging on was his girlfriend's Ashley's.
"How do you justify shooting somebody on your porch that you don't know wh,y they're out there pounding on your window but just going to open fire and start shooting? That's not right."
Don Zeth said his son wasn't armed. He said he understands the right to protect your home, but believes the homeowner was too quick to grab his gun.
Police confirm the call to 911 came from inside the home where Zeth was shot, although they can't say whether the call was made before or after the shooting.
Police said they don't consider the shooting to be the result of an attempted home invasion. They said they don't think Zeth was trying to break in.
"He might not make it. It's not good," said the shooting victims' father, Don Zeth.
Brandon Zeth, 24, is on life support at Altoona Regional. His lungs collapsed and bullets still remain lodged in his spine and throat.
"We don't know if he is going to live or if he is going to die, just because this man shot him outside on his porch," Zeth said. Adding, "I want to show that picture so everybody sees what he did to that boy for being at the wrong place at the wrong time."
Zeth was shot five times Friday night, twice in his arms and three times in his chest.
Police said he was shot on the back porch of a home on Cunningham Lane in Allegheny Township around midnight. The homeowner thought Zeth was an intruder and opened fire through the window with a 22 caliber gun.
"It was fearful time of night and not knowing what this guy exactly wanted," Allegheny Township Police Chief P. Richard Books said.
Zeth's father said his son never intended to go to that house.
"He was going to his girlfriend's house," Zeth said. "He was intoxicated. He went up the wrong deck and pounded on the wrong window and was shot."
Brandon Zeth's girlfriend's house sits some 60 yards away from the home where Zeth was shot.
The two houses are both yellow, high houses with long wooden decks stretching across the back.
Zeth's father says his son thought the window he was banging on was his girlfriend's Ashley's.
"How do you justify shooting somebody on your porch that you don't know wh,y they're out there pounding on your window but just going to open fire and start shooting? That's not right."
Don Zeth said his son wasn't armed. He said he understands the right to protect your home, but believes the homeowner was too quick to grab his gun.
Police confirm the call to 911 came from inside the home where Zeth was shot, although they can't say whether the call was made before or after the shooting.
Police said they don't consider the shooting to be the result of an attempted home invasion. They said they don't think Zeth was trying to break in.
Comments
I don't feel I would shoot through the door unless I saw a weapon. But force your way in and your fair game.
Don S.
January 19, 2012 at 10:23 am
Ok... So a drunk is banging on your window in the middle of the night and you shoot him.... I would do the same thing.
chris c.
January 18, 2012 at 9:39 am
