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EAST BATON ROUGE, LA — A man was shot in the arm early Saturday morning after confronting two individuals allegedly attempting to break into vehicles outside his home, according to the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies responded to the 8800 block of Mable Drive around 1 a.m. on March 29 following reports of a shooting. Authorities say the resident noticed two males allegedly trying to burglarize vehicles in the neighborhood and decided to confront them directly.

Rather than calling law enforcement and maintaining a safe distance, the man—accompanied by two others—followed the suspects to the end of nearby Marionette Drive. At that point, one of the suspects opened fire, hitting the man in the arm. The group returned fire, and the suspects fled on foot. Their identities remain unknown at this time.

The man’s injury was not life-threatening, and he is expected to recover. However, the situation could have ended far worse.

Confronting suspected criminals—especially at night and without knowing if they are armed—is extremely dangerous. In this case, what began as an effort to stop a property crime quickly escalated into a gunfight. While it’s understandable to feel protective of one’s property, it’s critical to remember that physical possessions can be replaced—your life cannot.

This incident serves as a stark reminder: no vehicle or piece of property is worth risking your life over. The safest and most responsible course of action in situations like these is to observe from a safe distance and alert authorities. Thankfully, this man survived. But many others in similar situations haven’t been as fortunate.