Son shot in alleged burglary with father

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Police in San Antonio, Texas, say a 15-year-boy was shot by a homeowner when the teen and his father allegedly tried to burglarize the home.

The teenager was shot Monday in the abdomen and arm but is expected to recover, The San Antonio Express-News reported Tuesday.

The teenager, whose name was not released, and his father, Raymond Gomez, 31, were charged with burglary, said Sgt. Gabe Trevino, noting the 33-year-old homeowner was not charged in the shooting.

Justified homicides more than doubled in the last year in San Antonio, with seven reported in 2007 and 17 reported in 2008. The state's so-called "castle doctrine" law allows property owners to use deadly force to safeguard their homes.

"You just have to have the belief that you're protecting your property. It's a decision that a homeowner has to make," Trevino said, adding the final determination of any charge rests with the district attorney's office.