San Diego

12-Year-Old Confronts Suspect in Escondido Home Invasion

The suspect, dressed entirely in black, walked in through the unlocked front door of the boy's home when the boy was home alone

A 12-year-old boy came face-to-face with an intruder in his family's home in Escondido Tuesday, and the pre-teen's quick thinking forced the suspect to flee.

According to Escondido Police Department (EPD) Lt. Kevin Toth, the home invasion happened just after 3:40 p.m. at the boy's home on Dana Lane, just west of Bear Valley Parkway, in the northeast part of Escondido. 

The boy was home alone and playing video games when he heard his family's dog barking in the backyard. The boy went outside to quiet down the dog, and when he went back inside the house, he noticed the front door was open, and there was a masked man inside.

The boy's mother, Becky Campbell, told NBC 7 her son, Jordan, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, stood just feet away from the intruder and told him to leave.

As soon as the suspect saw Jordan, he ran out the front door, police said.

The boy was not hurt.

Campbell said the suspect, dressed entirely in black, walked in through the unlocked front door.

The incident left her family shaken.

"Not easy knowing someone has invaded our private space and caused my son to be in tears and freaked out," Campbell said.

Campbell said her son saw the suspect get into a white van that was carrying other people, too.

"I'm angry that these people would do that to my son. I'm angry that you think you move into a nice community where you can feel safe, and I don't feel entirely safe anymore," Campbell said.

At this time, it is unclear if the suspect was armed. Police are reviewing video recordings from the neighbors’ security cameras in hopes of getting a better description of the van and suspects.

Toth said the department has not heard of anything like this happening in this area of Escondido in a while. No other information was available.

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