Former marine stabs intruder to death during break-in of garage

CHICAGO, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Chicago police said a 44-year-old former Marine used a knife to kill a man who had broken into his garage.

Mark Hayes said an alarm went off in his garage at 3:30 a.m.

When he went to check the garage, he was approached by the the intruder, who attempted to attack him with a hammer, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Hayes fought back with a fillet knife, and stabbed the intruder under his ribcage. The man began bleeding profusely.

The intruder ran and jumped into the car, and went to Roseland Hospital, where he was identified as Harold Cornell, 52.

Cornell died at the hospital at 3:44 a.m., the Tribune reported.

He had more than 25 arrests on his record since 1985, including theft, criminal trespassing and domestic battery.

Hayes had minor injuries and was treated at the scene. His family was not injured.

Hayes was questioned by police about the incident and was then released.

"I feel bad about what happened to him. He's somebody's father, he's somebody's son. That's not ultimately what I wanted to happen," Hayes said.