Man who shot at theft suspect is arrested
TOWN OF BELOIT--A town of Beloit man accused of shooting at a suspected thief was arrested early Friday morning on a charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety.
Jacob M. Davenport, 31, of 1973 Shore Drive, told police he heard somebody open the door of his van in his driveway at about 5 a.m. Friday, Town of Beloit Police Chief Steve Kopp said. When he looked outside, Davenport saw a man stealing items from his van.
Davenport told police he fired four shots with his handgun. He thinks one of them hit the man in the chest “based on the reaction of the suspect,” and the other three bullets hit the car, Kopp said.
The gold Chevrolet Cavalier sped from the scene, Kopp said. Neither the car nor the man Davenport said he shot had been located Friday.
Davenport told police he decided to fire his weapon because “he heard the engine rev on the suspect vehicle,” Kopp said.
Davenport was arrested, Kopp said, “because of the fact that he is indiscriminately firing rounds at someone in a vehicle. It’s a dangerous situation.”
The use of deadly force, such as firing a handgun, is lawful only to protect yourself or others from great bodily harm or death, Kopp said.
Davenport was being held at the Rock County Jail pending his initial appearance in Rock County Court.
