Man Shot by Homeowner Dies
By: Angie Koehle
Updated: February 8, 2012
ALLEGHENY TOWNSHIP, BLAIR COUNTY -- 24-year-old Brandon Zeth, the man who was shot by an Allegheny Township homeowner in what Zeth's family
said was a misunderstanding, died Wednesday night. Blair County Coroner Patty Ross confirmed
that her office was notified about Zeth's death.
Zeth's father, Donald Zeth, told us in an interview that Brandon thought he was at his girlfriend's house when he pounded on the door and window wanting to be let in. It turned out, he was at the wrong home. His girlfriend lives in the house next door.
Police said the owner of the home opened fire, shooting Zeth while Zeth was on the porch. Police said the homeowner thought Zeth was an intruder.
The shooting happened back on January 13th, 2012. Zeth had been hospitalized ever since, most recently at UPMC in Pittsburgh. His father told us the doctors last week gave him a 50/50 chance of surviving. Donald said his son was shot 5 times.
A Blair County Deputy District Attorney told WTAJ the case is still under investigation; a decision has not been made as to whether charges will be filed.
Zeth's father, Donald Zeth, told us in an interview that Brandon thought he was at his girlfriend's house when he pounded on the door and window wanting to be let in. It turned out, he was at the wrong home. His girlfriend lives in the house next door.
Police said the owner of the home opened fire, shooting Zeth while Zeth was on the porch. Police said the homeowner thought Zeth was an intruder.
The shooting happened back on January 13th, 2012. Zeth had been hospitalized ever since, most recently at UPMC in Pittsburgh. His father told us the doctors last week gave him a 50/50 chance of surviving. Donald said his son was shot 5 times.
A Blair County Deputy District Attorney told WTAJ the case is still under investigation; a decision has not been made as to whether charges will be filed.
Comments
misti g.
February 9, 2012 at 2:50 pm
I want everyone to put themselves in this mans shoe for just a split second and forget everything you have heard or read. If your father and mother were the ones that told you someone woke them up banging on a window any window and scared them straight out of bed in the middle of the night, whouldn't you have pulled the trigger in that second in that moment, I would have, not knowing who was there in THAT MOMENT IN THAT SECOND! DON'T JUDGE THIS MAN BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE IN THAT MOMENT!!!
misti g.
February 9, 2012 at 2:49 pm
I want everyone to put themselves in this mans shoe for just a split second and forget everything you have heard or read. If your father and mother were the ones that told you someone woke you up baging on a window any window and scared you straight out of bed in the middle of the night, whouldn't you have pulled the trigger in that second in that moment, I would have not knowing who was there in THAT MOMENT IN THAT SECOND! DON'T JUDGE THIS MAN BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE IN THAT MOMENT!!!
misti g.
February 9, 2012 at 2:48 pm
I want everyone to put themselves in this mans shoe for just a split second and forget everything you have heard or read. If your father and mother were the ones that told you someone woke you up baging on a window any window and scared you straight out of bed in the middle of the night, whouldn't you have p[ulled the trigger in that second in that moment, I would have not knowing who was there in THAT MOMENT IN THAT SECOND! DON'T JUDGE THIS MAN BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE IN THAT MOMENT!!!
misti g.
February 9, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I want everyone to put themselves in this mans shoe for just a split second and forget everything you have heard or read. If your father and mother were the ones that told you someone woke you up baging on a window any window and scared you straight out of bed in the middle of the night, whouldn't you have p[ulled the trigger in that second in that moment, I would have not knowing who was there in THAT MOMENT IN THAT SECOND! DON'T JUDGE THIS MAN BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE IN THAT MOMENT!!!
misti g.
February 9, 2012 at 2:47 pm
As someone who carries almost 24/7 and firmly believes in the right to both keep and bear arms I must say this guy was wrong to shoot. If there had been a window broken in or door kicked in I could understand it, but the guy was still outside and wasn't a threat to either the man or his wife.
Young or old doesn't matter, there was no imminent threat to their safety, the guy outside didn't have a gun as far as I know so there was no threat from outside other than him yelling, and that doesn't warrant shooting someone. The guy over-reacted, plain and simple. I feel bad for him but he needs to face the consequences for his actions.
Douglas S.
February 9, 2012 at 10:01 am
Brian C.
February 9, 2012 at 7:43 am
I am soo sorry that this man has died however my heart goes out to the elderly man and his wife who were in their own home and were scared so bad by a drunkin fool that he felt he had to defend his wife with a gun! These people weren't drunk they weren't pounding on someones doors and yelling they were in bed sleeping! I can't say if that happened to me and I wouldn't defend my family that way! He was told to leave several times and I believe even a warning shot was fired, it's very sad but the innocent homeowner shouldn't be charged maybe if he were younger he wouldn't have been so affriad but he is elderly and he was only defending his wife!
Kim D.
February 9, 2012 at 7:04 am
What a sad and tragic ending. This young man made a mistake, for that, he lost his life. This is outrageous that the homeowner hasn't been charged with anything. I can see he may have been frightened, but there were no doors broken down or windows busted in. Excessive force was used in this case. Why didn't he wait for the police to get there before he shot? They were only minutes away. The law needs to be changed, and action needs to be taken on this case. Does this now open up the door for people to shoot anyone they feel "threatened" by? If someone is on your lawn yelling at you and you say you feel "threatened", can you just now shoot them instead of waiting for police to arrive? This is just WRONG. I agree with the other person who commented that if the shooter isn't charged, that I, also, will speak my voice with how I vote at the polls with anyone involved who is in public office that does not do the right thing. This family has gone through so much pain, and lost someone they love, just because he made a mistake that night. We all need to speak our voice to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else ever again.
Concerned m.
February 9, 2012 at 6:28 am
What a sad and tragic ending. This young man made a mistake, for that, he lost his life. This is outrageous that the homeowner hasn't been charged with anything. I can see he may have been frightened, but there were no doors broken down or windows busted in. Excessive force was used in this case. Why didn't he wait for the police to get there before he shot? They were only minutes away. The law needs to be changed, and action needs to be taken on this case. Does this now open up the door for people to shoot anyone they feel "threatened" by? If someone is on your lawn yelling at you and you say you feel "threatened", can you just now shoot them instead of waiting for police to arrive? This is just WRONG. I agree with the other person who commented that if the shooter isn't charged, that I, also, will speak my voice with how I vote at the polls with anyone involved who is in public office that does not do the right thing. This family has gone through so much pain, and lost someone they love, just because he made a mistake that night. We all need to speak our voice to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else ever again.
Concerned m.
February 9, 2012 at 6:24 am
Concerned m.
February 9, 2012 at 6:18 am
I am disturbed that this homeowner has not been charged with at least manslaughter at this moment. The person was not in his house and he should have called the police. So many people have been told that if you are being robbed and person is in the house you have a right to shoot but you better kill them or they can sue you. This happened in Georgia. The saying if they are on your porch drag them in the house. I know you have all heard that.
I believe in gun rights but the homeowner went too far. If this person doesn't get charged I will make it show with my vote at the polls with anyone involved in this investigation who is in public office.
I am not related or even know the person that was shot and now dead. This county is having major issues with drugs and criminals recently. I can understand the thinking and being scared but the law is the law.
Altoona is terrible there is a big problem with vandalism and gang tag spray painting throughout our city. I still want to know how they vandalized the 17th st walking bridge when it is monitored live by the Altoona Police Dept. This area sucks. I should move to my dads horse farm in Virgina.
Chris C.
February 9, 2012 at 5:37 am
