The 54-year-old burglar who was shot and killed by a homeowner after crawling into a house Tuesday had a lengthy criminal record dating to 1969, records show.
James Edward Cannon, who was homeless, died from a shotgun blast to the chest, according to police and Adams County Coroner James Hibbard.
Police say a homeowner in the 1700 block of Fulton Street shot Cannon with a 12-gauge shotgun Tuesday morning about 8:30 a.m. after Cannon removed an air-conditioning unit and crawled through a window.
Police have not released the homeowner’s name, but neighbors have identified him as schoolteacher Lawrence Kintz.
No decision has been made on whether charges will be filed against the shooter, said Aurora police spokesman Bob Friel. Adams County District Attorney Don Quick said he is awaiting reports on the shooting from police.
Colorado law gives occupants of a house the right to use deadly force against an intruder if they are reasonably sure the person intends to use physical force against them.
Cannon was arrested on a count of first- degree trespassing May 14 and has been arrested at least 27 other times on charges including robbery, assault, shoplifting, theft, burglary, drunken driving, fraud and escape, according to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records.
He served jail time, including five days in a Denver jail in 1994 for shoplifting, three years in prison beginning in 1997 for drug possession and a year in jail two years ago for theft.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
