Police: Woman Fatally Shot Man During Break-In

INDIANAPOLIS -- A woman fatally shot one of two men who were trying to break into her apartment on the city's east side Saturday night, police said.

Officers found Derrick Thorton, 20, of Beloit, Wis., laying the hallway of the apartment building, located in the 2100 block of Lake Terrace Drive, after they were called there at about 9:30 p.m.

A 20-year-old woman told officers she shot Thorton as he broke into her apartment.

Police said a cousin of Thorton's, Randy Thorton, 22, helped with the break-in. He was found a short time later at his home in the 2200 block of Peter Drive and was arrested on a preliminary charge of murder, police said, because the shooting happened while the pair was allegedly committing a forcible felony.

"The way the law is written, if he has an accomplice, that person can face ... felony murder even though they weren't the person responsible for shooting," Indianapolis police Lt. Doug Scheffel said.

"It's totally not tolerated," said a neighbor, who did not wish to be identified. "She did what she was supposed to do -- a single woman ... she defended herself (when) someone came in on her."

The Marion County prosecutor's office will review the case to determine if any charges are warranted against the woman. Police said the woman did not know the two men.