School Teacher stops home-intruder.... DEAD

[Danno 1,228]

<--teacher

Popular band teacher reportedly shoots, kills masked intruder in Wellington

Monday, February 16, 2009

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/con...216invader.html?

WELLINGTON — A masked gunman died early this morning after he exchanged fire with a resident inside a Wellington home, authorities said.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Pete Palenzuela said Heath Miller, a school teacher, killed the intruder, who police have not yet identified.

heath miller

Investigators said there appears to be no connection between the couple and the suspected invader.

When deputies arrived, they found a man with a .40 caliber gun, dressed in all black and wearing a black mask, just inside a sliding door at the back of the home, Palenzuela said.

The intruder appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s, Palenzuela said.

He would not say where in the body the dead man was struck.

Driving and school records show Heath Miller, 34, lives at that address and teaches music at H.L. Watkins Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens. According to the 2007 Watkins yearbook, Miller was selected the school's most popular teacher.

Henry Miller, owner of Miller Funeral Home in Belle Glade, confirmed he is Heath Miller's father but said he was talking to investigators and could not immediately elaborate. Records show Heath Miller had at one point been vice president of the funeral home.

The spokesman said there appears to be no connection between the couple and the suspected invader.

Deputies were called about 1:50 a.m. today to 1382 White Pine Drive, near Wellington Trace and Forest Hill Boulevard, after a woman called 911 and reported someone had broken into the house and been shot by her husband.

The couple told police they were awake in their bedroom when their dogs, a Jack Russell terrier and a German Shepherd, alerted them.

"One of the dogs went back to the bedroom and growled and alerted the resident that the intruder was making his way to the bedroom," Palenzuela said.

Inside, Miller, who owns a .38-caliber pistol and a .22-caliber rifle, and his wife huddled in their bedroom as the intruder moved toward them in the dark.

Miller got out his pistol and held it at the ready.

Through the bedroom doorway, he saw the robber's silhouette moving toward him.

A gunfight ensued.

It wasn't immediately clear who fired the first shot, but after a brief exchange the masked intruder stumbled bleeding back toward the glass door, where he collapsed and died, the spokesman said.

Neither of the residents was injured, Palenzuela said.

Witnesses told investigators the couple are well-regarded in the neighborhood.

Detectives still were investigating why the gunman would target Miller's duplex.

"It's hard to say at this point," said Detective Sgt. David Conklin, whose homicide squad is handling the case. "I couldn't even take a guess."

The owner of the duplex, Angelo Palumbo, drove up to the property just before 10:30 a.m. and walked in to survey the damage.

He said he saw some bullet holes scattered through the house, and said the rear sliding glass door was shattered.

Palumbo, who described Miller as a "very good tenant," said the neighborhood is in decline.

Band parents praised Miller's leadership, especially of the school's awarding winning, 40-plus-member Percussion Academy, one of the largest such drum lines in the country.

Miller came to Watkins at the beginning of the 2005-2006 school year, according to a 2006 article.

In a later interview, Miller bragged about running his band like the military, saying infractions are punished by push ups.

"The parents call me: 'so-and-so needs push ups,'" Miller said.

The tough love approach works.

This morning, parents said Miller is extraordinary with students and a rare role model in public schools: an African-American male teacher.

"He reminds you of how the teachers were back in the days," said Latracia Hayes, whose son Jacoby was in the band part of this school year.

"He understands the kids."

Catharine Darant said her 14-year-old son Derick was having trouble with his grades. So she sat down with all of his teachers, including Miller.

The band teacher applied just the amount of pressure, warning Derick that if his grades continued to slip, he would not be able to keep playing.

"That's one of the reasons my son is keeping his grades up, so he can stay in the band," Darant said.

Miller "was very influential."

Miller was a 1992 graduate of Glades Central High School, where he served as Student Council vice president.

He later earned degrees in finance and music at Howard University in Washington, where, as only a freshman, he led the drum section of the college's "Thunder" marching band.

Miller's mother, Harma, served on the Belle Glade city commission for a number of years and was mayor for at least one term in the early 2000s; she also taught at Palm Beach Community College's Glades campus.

Heath Miller also produced the music of his sister, Harva, an aspiring recording artist who performed at the 2000 SunFest.

In a 1998 article about embalming students at Lynn University in Boca Raton working on cadavers, Miller said, "Being around this has given me a respect for life and made me want to live every day like it's my last."

[Yoink 7]

Self-defense from a home invasion.

[Peikko 1,575]

He might be your hero Danno, but he's not mine. I have no idea if he had to take the course of action that he did, or not. One thing I do know, taking a life is not, nor should it not be something one does lightly or celebrates. I somewhat doubt the teacher is taking any satisfaction from what occurred although I am sure he is thankful that he lives to tell the tale.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I guess the message being conveyed is that you too can use news headlines to entertain violent revenge fantasies, and turn others experiences into vicarious porno trips.

[Peikko 1,575]

What's funny is that according to BY, the guy shouldn't even have been allowed to own a gun. Oh well, logic is as logic does

[Nagishkaw 510]

Self-defense from a home invasion.

.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Excellent role model and I applaud this man. He thought so highly of his family that he kept protection and used it to insure his family was safe. Now this a man that loves his family so much he would do anything for them.

What's funny is that according to BY, the guy shouldn't even have been allowed to own a gun. Oh well, logic is as logic does

No. According to Liberals he shouldn't have been allowed to own that weapon that saved him and his family.

[Peikko 1,575]

Excellent role model and I applaud this man. He thought so highly of his family that he kept protection and used it to insure his family was safe. Now this a man that loves his family so much he would do anything for them.

My husband must hate me then

[Yoink 7]

Excellent role model and I applaud this man. He thought so highly of his family that he kept protection and used it to insure his family was safe. Now this a man that loves his family so much he would do anything for them.

What's funny is that according to BY, the guy shouldn't even have been allowed to own a gun. Oh well, logic is as logic does

No. According to Liberals he shouldn't have been allowed to own that weapon that saved him and his family.

Accolades aside... it is a successful defense and another point in favor of the pro-gun crowd

[Peikko 1,575]

Excellent role model and I applaud this man. He thought so highly of his family that he kept protection and used it to insure his family was safe. Now this a man that loves his family so much he would do anything for them.

What's funny is that according to BY, the guy shouldn't even have been allowed to own a gun. Oh well, logic is as logic does

No. According to Liberals he shouldn't have been allowed to own that weapon that saved him and his family.

No, it was quite clearly BY that stated categorically the black men should not be allowed to own guns because of their propensity to crime. You'll be hard pushed to find a post anywhere where I have ever said that no one should be allowed to own guns. Good luck searching though.

[DeadPoolX 9]

He might be your hero Danno, but he's not mine. I have no idea if he had to take the course of action that he did, or not. One thing I do know, taking a life is not, nor should it not be something one does lightly or celebrates. I somewhat doubt the teacher is taking any satisfaction from what occurred although I am sure he is thankful that he lives to tell the tale.

Having never taken someone's life (and I hope I never have to), I'd say this man did was what necessary. Calling the police might be the optimal solution; however, the police have a habit of arriving too late. As far as I can tell, this man and his wife were in immediate danger, therefore shooting the intruder was the best course of action.

[Peikko 1,575]

He might be your hero Danno, but he's not mine. I have no idea if he had to take the course of action that he did, or not. One thing I do know, taking a life is not, nor should it not be something one does lightly or celebrates. I somewhat doubt the teacher is taking any satisfaction from what occurred although I am sure he is thankful that he lives to tell the tale.

Having never taken someone's life (and I hope I never have to), I'd say this man did was what necessary. Calling the police might be the optimal solution; however, the police have a habit of arriving too late. As far as I can tell, this man and his wife were in immediate danger, therefore shooting the intruder was the best course of action.

It quite possibly was.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

What's funny is that according to BY, the guy shouldn't even have been allowed to own a gun. Oh well, logic is as logic does

But apparently only if he's black or Hispanic, then he should not be granted the second (and perhaps more) amendment of the constitution

[rclouse 0]

The reason this is news is because it's so uncommon.

A kid finding Dad's gun and accidentally shooting someone isn't big news cause it happens all the time.

But go ahead and use this as evidence owning a gun is a great idea.

[Ban Hammer 13,659]

He might be your hero Danno, but he's not mine. I have no idea if he had to take the course of action that he did, or not. One thing I do know, taking a life is not, nor should it not be something one does lightly or celebrates. I somewhat doubt the teacher is taking any satisfaction from what occurred although I am sure he is thankful that he lives to tell the tale.

surely you noticed these lines.....

Inside, Miller, who owns a .38-caliber pistol and a .22-caliber rifle, and his wife huddled in their bedroom as the intruder moved toward them in the dark.

Miller got out his pistol and held it at the ready.

Through the bedroom doorway, he saw the robber's silhouette moving toward him.

A gunfight ensued.

if they were in their bedroom, they had no other place to retreat to