LCSO IDs Student Shot in Sterling Neighbor's Home
Authorities confirmed that a Park View student was killed after entering a neighbor’s home, apparently by accident.
Photos
UPDATE: A story published today addresses some of the questions raised in shooting death of Park View High School student Caleb A. Gordley.
Original story:
The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has identified the Park View High School student who was shot when he, apparently by mistake, entered a neighbor's home as Caleb A. Gordley, 16.
The LCSO confirmed early Monday that a student was killed when he entered a neighbor’s home on the 45900 block of Pullman Court in Sterling around 2:30 a.m. March 17. The name was release just after 1 p.m. Monday.
The homeowner contacted the law enforcement to report he had shot an intruder. He reportedly encountered teen on a flight of stairs in the home.
Friends of the teenager dropped him off on his block after a night of drinking and he mistakenly entered the wrong home, according to news reports. According to the LCSO report, the teen appears to have entered the home through a rear window that was found open after the incident. The LCSO report also stated that the teen is alleged to have been drinking with friends prior to the incident.
The LCSO continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and why the teenager entered the home. Investigators are awaiting a final report from the Medical Examiner’s Office to determine if drugs or alcohol played a factor.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the LCSO Criminal Investigations Division at 703-777-0475.
The previous information was supplied by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. For questions about this article, email dusty@patch.com.
Eaglepoint007
12:04 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
This is clearly a person that should never be allowed to own a gun. Everyone has the right to protect your property but this is just a case of shoot first then call the police. A responsible gun owner would have tried to identify the threat before shooting. Plus the front door would not have been unlocked so that any child could walk in. What a said day.
Al Jackson
11:54 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Poor kid. Goes to the wrong house at 2 am with two of his close friends. None of the three notice that the driveway is on the wrong side of the house. Or the landscaping is different. Or the latch on the gate to the back yard is not the same as his. Or the back of the house and yard are very different than his. But fortunately, the screen prys off the back window the same as at his house. And this house has a burgler alarm. It goes off. Landing inside, finds the furniture is all different. And since it's not his house, he doesn't know how to silence the alarm. But at least the staircase looks familiar. Except for the big white guy at the top telling him to get out of his house. The guy who fires the warning shot. Who was not on the midnight shift at the fire department that night. Bad luck. Though no reason to back down the stairs or leave the house. But no matter, the kid was drinking and the homeowner should know that the teen is not responsible for any of his decisions. If I had a son, he would look like him. Poor kid.
T-Bird
1:14 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Al Jackson - the snarky racist. But since you only inferred you bigotry and slander, I'm sure the Patch will let that go, and all your gun loving racist friends can have a good chuckle at your wit. I pray you have to bury one of your kids one day.
Tim Cooke
12:30 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Don't jump to conclusions without knowing the facts. How scary it must have been to have an intruder in your house at 2:30AM. According to the Washington Post, the teen may have entered the house through a rear window.
Mary S.
12:39 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
It is frightening that someone could make a mistake like this and have his/her life ended. Amazing about our gun laws in Virginia, a man's castle, really! Shoot and ask questions later...how could you not know this is a neighbor's kid? I know it's 2 or 3 in the morning, but still what if it's your son or daughter coming in at that time???? They knock over a chair, you get up, reach for the gun and then what?
Eaglepoint007
1:26 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Mary, The gun laws are fine. It is that gun owners in some cases don't take a single class. owning several guns all locked and kept away, and I am trained on each one for hours. The first thing an instructor will tell you is you 9 times more likely to shoot a family member or kid by accident then you are an intruder. Now I might have grabbed my gun at 2:30 or 3AM but would have turned on a light said something if it was that obvious. The sad part is this could have been my son or anyone of his 8 friends that spend the night almost every weekend playing video games and watching movies. I have heard noises and now don't grab the gun first because 10 out of 10 times its my son or one of his friends.
Jim
1:35 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Seriously? You think you are going to have a pleasant conversation when someone breaks into your home? I can just see that going well for you. "Excuse me Mr. Intruder, are you sure you have the right house, by the way, how old are you and would you like some cookies and milk?". Get real- it was 2:30 AM, the kid was drunk and he was in someone's house. This is a terrible tragedy but the homeowner had a right to protect his house/family.
Logan
3:37 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
T-Bird, we don't know for sure he was drunk yet, that's an assumption (perhaps a valid one). The medical examiner is investigating that but all we know is that he was dropped off after he and his friends had been drinking.
His family says he must have entered by mistake, but police investigation is still trying to determine the reason. Just wait, man.
T-Bird
4:17 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
And in the meantime, I should accept your lies and apologies for this trigger happy wannabe? He was reported as having been drinking. Tell me, when you were a teenager on a Saturday, did you sit around nursing a cold one, or were you slaming down tall boys? He was drinking+ he was a teenager+saturday night = drunk. And do yourself a favor, bing map the street. Go ahead. Brick front with a 2 car garage and no landscaping to speak of. Every house on the block looks the same with some minor architectural differences. Now after being there for only a few months and it's 2:30 and you had a few drinks, you can say your getting it right 100% of the time? And your peanlty for getting it wrong should be what? Death? The fact that he was a kid coming home and he is dead is all I need to know. Owning a gun doesn't absolve you of responsibility.
Eaglepoint007
1:51 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Jim, your on an island by yourself here. Having watched something very similar happen previously it was that very attitude that was used and I would bet the home owner wishes for the rest of his or her life that they had simply turned on a light or called out the police are on their way. Not a conversation common sense. This wasn't in SE DC where break-in cost you your life, this was a very upscale neighborhood. And your comment that the kid was drunk ok, so were you protecting your Vodka or family. You shot a confused kid without a weapon that didn't mean to harm you. If you know how to use a gun there is no reason to shot blindly in that situation. If you like killing people because they walked into the wrong house hope you like the lawsuit to follow.
CH
2:07 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Are you serious Eaglepoint? For all you know the home owner could have a Law Enforcement or Military background with more experience than the instructor you speak of. I don't understand how you can make judgement on what happened unless you were there. No real details of what took place are known so you are merely speculating.
Off topic but IMO (and most other instructors), if you hear a bump in the night and don't grab your gun then you're not very well trained at all. If you go to investigate the noise unarmed, that may or may not be your son coming in at night, you may end up getting yourself and the rest of your family killed because you aren't going to be able to say "wait just a second, I need to go back up to my bedroom and get my weapon". Carry your gun and identify the threat before presenting your weapon.
Until the real story comes out (and by law enforcement not the media rumor mill) we should assume this homeowner did just that. You know, that whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing?
T-Bird
3:03 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Problem with your tough guy rant: He didn't identify the threat, did he? No.
Eaglepoint007
2:31 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
CH, First I know law enforcement, and those trained by the military very very well. Neither are taught to fire without identifying their targets first. Hence the extensive training. As for the source of information your correct you have no idea where I am getting it so please don't assume anything. Again as for grabbing your weapon, I just told you have have 8 to ten teenagers in my house. I live in a save area and am very well trained with weapons and hand to hand. My current assumption is that its my son or one of his friend that knocked something over. so rather then go down with a gun when I could easily kill you with my hands assuming I am not out gunned, to scare a kid or accidently shoot one doesn't make sense. I am not suggesting guilty, I am say the gun owner was untrained and didn't identify the threat had he a gun in the face of teenage around here make this conversation mute.
Logan
2:35 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
According to other sources, the teen broke into the home through a basement window, the owner called 911 and confronted the teen, firing a warning shot and telling him to stop advancing before finally shooting him. Let's wait until all the facts are in before passing judgement.
As for the teen being unarmed and just drunk and possibly being in the wrong house, it's easy to tell those things after the fact but one has to trust until proven otherwise that the homeowner made the best decision given the circumstances.
T-Bird
3:06 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
It's also easy to make up stories. I have one: he was running away and he shot him in the back. Then he watched him bleed to death even though he has advanced first aid training. I heard that from other sources.
Logan
3:34 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
T-Bird, you're just being argumentative. I made nothing up, all I said was wait, don't jump to conclusions. This seems to be a hugely emotionally charged news story with people making all kinds of accusations against the homeowner and defending the homeowner. Let's see.
T-Bird
4:05 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Your story is a complete fabrication and is not supported by a single report on the event. This very article say that he called 911 after shooting the child, and nobody has said anything about a warning shot. Do you seirously think anybody will believe that an unarmed child would advance after he shot a warning shot indoors? Do you know how loud a gunshot is in a confined space. That's called making things up. Please don't try to pretned that your being "fair and balanced" after slinging nonsense. Do you think I'm as simple minded as you, or should I just sit here and accept your lies?
Logan
4:17 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
T-Bird, I do actually know how loud a gunshot is indoors, having done it myself. You're just being antagonistic but here, from the Loudoun Sheriff's department is indication that there was a call made before the shooting, and after the shooting:
http://sheriff.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=131
T-Bird
4:25 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Says nothing new. They said it was reported. How do you know it wasn't an automatic notification or if it was a call? And if he did, he hung up. People are purpoting that there is evidence of the event by the phone call, when it is clear there is not. No Logan, it seems you only object to conjecture when it dosen't support the trigger happy wannbe homeowner.
Logan
4:31 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
T-Bird, I was responding to your accusation that it was completely made up. My point was that it does have some basis. Regardless of how it is interpreted, my original plea still stands: wait until the facts come in before passing judgement either way.
Your complete lack of courtesy is rather irritating, by the way.
T-Bird
4:38 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
By the way Logan, knowing how loud it is, you still didn't answer my question. You're standing no more than a few feet away in a confined space of a house, you fire a "warning shot", do you seirously believe he would continue to advance? Do you seirously think a child who was in the wrong place and had no reason to be there would charge at him? Like I said, any form of warning would have resolved the situation as one would have seen the mistake and the other wold have seen the danger. You say to wait and see, but then you make stuff up. How about this for things you don't know: How do you know the kid didn't see him and think "Holy s--t!There's a guy with a gun in my house!"
T-Bird
4:45 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
No Logan, I have no problem with responsible poeple owning guns and defending their homes, But that is not the case here. You say he made the best decision. I say the real problem here is that he made no decision. He had decided that he was going to kill any intruder long before he picked up that gun. Because tha't his "right". This "right" removes any need to exercise any care or restraint, or as you say, make a decision. That an untrained citizen is given carte blanche permission to kill whomever he pleases, in a civilized socitey, should be abhorrant.
Logan
4:50 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
And you've never apologized for your rude behavior.
Be honest with me, is there anything I could say in answer that you won't tell me is just pure conjecture?
By the way, you say "child" but it was a 16-year old, 6-foot male football player who went out drinking.
I don't know that a warning shot was fired (I repeat, hey! Iet's wait!) but /if/ one was, and /if/ the teen was drunk (as you presume), then could that not explain why he didn't back off?
C'mon man, you're really being completely one-sided about this, calling the homeowner a trigger-happy wannabe. The fact is, you don't know, and neither do I. He may have been, but can we just have a wait-see on this?
Logan
5:02 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
As a followup, DailyMail reports that the homeowner did call 911 and that the shooting took place while the police were en route. Whether that's true or not remains to be seen.
CH
2:45 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
You are still speculating yet you don't have the first clue what actually took place. For all you know this kid could have said to his friends "hey drop me off up the street at my neighbors house, I always see him wearing Rolex watches and want to steal one, I think they are out of town this weekend". He also could have gotten a knife from the kitchen or a baseball bat out of the garage. The home owner could have also turned on every light in the house with an app on his phone through the security company or he could have lit him up like a Christmas tree with a flashlight like a surefire. You have NO IDEA what happened that night in that house and because of that you shouldn't be jumping to conclusions and speculating before the police investigation is even complete. How can you, somebody who was not there be so certain that the homeowner didn't identify the threat or that the intruder wasn't armed when the detectives haven't even figured it out yet? Only two people know what happened that night and one is dead and the other should know better than to talk to anybody but the police or an attorney because he will most likely be sued no matter how right his actions may have been.
A "safe" or "upscale" neighborhood is hogwash. There is no safe neighborhood, burglaries, rapes, and murders happen all over this country in the worst neighborhoods and the best. If you want a little fact here, more home invasions happen in higher income neighborhoods than lower income ones.
Dusty Smith
4:01 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Ok, the comments are going a bit over the line. Those I saw with profanity were removed. We're all still waiting for the facts in this case. I'm sure there are plenty of rumors flying. An investigation is underway to try to determine the facts. We encourage everyone sharing opinions, but lets try to keep it clean. Thanks.
T-Bird
4:06 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
So I guess slandering the victim is ok?
Eaglepoint007
4:19 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Ch, this is a very emotional subject. I have a 16 year old and my house is the collection point for the kids because it is safe place and I parent all the teens. I know where my son is most of the time and he is at one of three homes. And has walked home late at night if the sleeping arrangements weren't great. So T-bird is correct there is a dead kid that made a mistake and walked into the wrong home. For that he is dead no altercation just shoot to death. Was the kid wrong (yes he made a mistake walking into the wrong house). Was the home owner right, as a parent hell NO, as a home owner I would not have shoot him and if I did he won't be dead. Your attitude is what is wrong with America today. You just don't give a crap about a life why should our teens with that example? My original post was simply to point out that your are 9 times more likely to shoot a family member or kid then you are a true intruder. My prayers are with the family burying their son.
CH
5:11 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Eagle, again you don't know the facts. Who is to say the homeowner was or wasn't wrong without knowing what happened? He could have easily acquired a weapon of sorts or otherwise made the homeowner fearful of his and his families safety. One would hope that he made every last effort to stop from shooting the kid but who knows until the report comes out.
Bottom line is you are jumping to the conclusion that the homeowner is guilty without any evidence supporting it. All we know for sure is that he entered a residence that was not his, through a back window, and was shot. There is no other details. It's plain and simple.
People who jump to a conclusion and spread hearsay is what I believe is wrong with America. Let the police do their job and then form an opinion once the facts are known.
T-Bird
6:09 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
"Wait, don't jump to facts, but I'm going to make this inference he had a baseball bat" LOLZ
"This guy could have pissed the kid off and he was going to enter the residence to teach the guy a lesson." Really? He just moved to the neighborhood. How do you know they even knew each other, no less had a relationship? Quite the leap there Kojak.
"People who jump to a conclusion and spread hearsay is what I believe is wrong with America."
HA! That, by the way, is you.
sheila
6:21 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Sad accident indeed but there is a big problem with underage drinking in this county. He played three sports and noone noticed? If my back window was broken into and alarm sounded and I found an intruder coming up the stairs.... I doubt he would've not recognized something diff about the house unless he was totally hammered teenager or not...
T-Bird
6:27 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
The reports are the window was not broken but unlocked and he recently moved to the neighborhood. And if you took even a second to google or bing the neighborhood, you would see all the houses look the same. But don't let facts get in the way of your conjecture and innuendo. FYI - you should also infer he had a weapon. It sounds better.
T-Bird
6:22 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
CH and Logan: Just admit it. You have no interest in finding the truth. You have no interest in opposing points of view, as you are looking for excuses, not facts. You want to find justification for the homeowner. Unless you are related and have a direct reason to defend him, you are playing politics. Playing politics with the death of a CHILD. And you expect civility? Do you both lack morality so badly you cannot even see how low you sunk?
Logan
8:26 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
*sigh* I have repeatedly /spelled out/ my intentions: to wait for more facts before passing judgement either way. You're the one who seems to have no interest in the truth. You've made up your mind, I have not, please tell me how that means I have no interest in the truth? I do expect civility, especially because I've never even said you're wrong, just that we don't have all the information yet. But apparently everyone who doesn't nod their head with you needs to be beaten down and personally insulted. Just please stop it, you're adding nothing to the discussion.
T-Bird
9:48 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Yes, people that make up excuses for a child murderer deserve a beating. It's not about opposing points of view. It's about right or wrong. You say one thing and do another. Then you tell people that oppose you to shut up. And I have nothing to add?
billy420
9:07 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Tbird apparently had some connection to the burglar/intruder. The two houses look pretty different and the intruder lived there for over a year. This isnt a Martin thing at all as the news reports will show. An tbird. What child is riding around at 230am. And where are the parents. And whats with that house where he lives. Its been a rental for a while.
T-Bird
9:53 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Oh yeah buddy, you got me! NOT! Try 40 year old gun owner who lives nowheres near Sterling. The difference is I don't suckle off the teet of the NRA, as I know they don't represent me or anybody else who doesn't have a fat checkbook. Oh and by the way, when I was 16, I was working in a resturant until 2:30 am. Then I would hang out with my friends till 4:00 am after work. Just because you were a brat that couldn't be trusted doesn't mean that everyone else lacks the morality or responsibility you do.
luu
8:15 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Tinn's house front door is facing traction place street and shooter front door is facing pullman ct. And both house are different model, I feel sorry for both family. However, this is accident that nobody want to be happen
Logan
8:15 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Two news sites this morning report that someone at the sheriff's office says there was a warning shot fired and reportedly the teen did not stop coming. The sites also say that his friends helped him get in the wrong window, and it sounds like he was drunk.
This is a terrible tragedy but I don't see how the homeowner can be blamed under the circumstances. He couldn't have known the teen was too intoxicated to respond, all he sees is a strange person in the house who won't back down.
I'm sure you'll issue a public apology to me and the homeowner, T-Bird.
T-Bird
9:58 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Why, because you fabricated the story before the homeowner did? Him and his daughter are the only witnesses. An the NRA nuts are out in force to make sure this doesn't turn into another Zimmerman. The truth of what happened died when that boy did. You will get nothing from me.
Logan
10:14 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
T-Bird, I have made more than a reasonable effort to be courteous to you and you have responded with nothing but slander, ridicule, obnoxious posts, and hypocrisy. That's what we usually call a "troll".
You apparently know what "really happened" and no amount of facts will convince you otherwise. Therefore, I repeat: you have nothing to add to this discussion.
T-Bird
12:59 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Logan, I don't know all the facts, and I doubt it will come out. What I do know is that an unarmed intoxicated child made a mistake and was shot dead for it. What I know is that people like you and and billy and CH are coming to comment sections like this and others and are filling them with rude, offensive, racist and inhumane remarks and judgements about the child and his family, while at the same time putting this wannabe up on a pedstal like he's some kind of hero for shooting a lost staggering drunk kid. Believe me, I could not possibly be rude enough to you or the others to make up for what has been said. Human nature is that what is most expediant will get done and this creep will get off. He can also say whatever he likes right now, because there is a presumption that there will be no charges and there are no other witnesses.
You want a legitimate comment? I say that the castle doctrine needs to be overturned, or codified into a reasonable law. At no point should you be able to take the life of anybody with inpunity. While presumption of innocence is fine, they are presuming that there wasn't even a crime. THAT is a step beyond reason. There should be charges and this should be settled by a grand jury. If a jury dismissed the charges, I would be satisfied. But that is not going to happen, is it? So we are back to where we started.
Jennifer Marshall
9:42 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
So tragic. Praying for everyone affected by this event and all those close to the young man whose life was taken far too soon.
Logan
10:24 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Absolutely agree. His family must be suffering terribly.
Dusty Smith
10:32 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
I would like to be able to keep this thread open. Please consider that families are grieving at this particular moment. An open conversation about this is welcome, but please try to be respectful. Opinions can be offered without directing emotions, that clearly every feels, at each other. Please resist identifying this incident as any particular crime. No charges have been filed at this time.
Logan
10:44 am on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Thanks Dusty, you're right and I apologize if I've been losing sight of how much everyone regrets this all around.
T-Bird
12:40 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
So inferring that the child who was killed was a thug and a rapist is ok, but god forbid you call the homeowner anything but a god -fearing american hero? Is that what it is Dusty? I'm sorry, but fair is fair. And if you're going to allow people to come here and cast aspersions and innundeo towards the child and his family, then the same should be allowed for all. No, what I see here is the Patch letting nasty comments and accusations towards the victim and his families pass, while comments on the shooter are reprimanded and edited. How is that journalism? Or are you just too afraid of a lawsuit?
Dusty Smith
12:56 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
T-Bird, please flag an comments you think are unfair and I'll take of them. But I don't see anything where someone libels the victim. There were suggestions, before additional reports came out, about why he was might have entered the home, but none stated as fact.
T-Bird
1:10 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Dusty, what you call "suggestions", I call accusations without fact, and therefore slander. Frankly, I find half of the comments on here and the other articles offensive, but from your comment, it seems our definitions are not the same.
Gina
12:48 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
If you think this homeowner didn't have a right to protect his home and family then by all means post your address on here so all the criminals know where to go so they can have a meaningful conversation with you at 2:30 in the morning!....and why is a 16 year old coming home at 2:30 in the morning?
T-Bird
1:06 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Is that a threat tough girl? How about you post your address, and all the people that don't agree with you and have guns can come over your place? Better yet, the criminals will be sure to pack a few extra clips when they come to visit. Do you realy think that by having a gun, you have some special power? You are a fool if you do.