Swift Justice: Home Invasion Suspects Get Face Full of AK-47

By: Ryan Carrillo

On Tuesday morning, in the 3800 block of King Palm Avenue, near Lamb Boulevard and Craig Road, a male and female suspect were shot after their attempted home invasion went horribly wrong (or right).

The female suspect, identified as Tiffany Carter, also known as Tarnesha Harris, knocked on the door of the robbery victims’ home and said her car was broken down with her son in it.

A 12-year-old resident of the home answered the door and as the boy was preparing to close the door to go grab a phone for the suspect, Harris pushed the door open and forced her way in. The boy attempted to get away but Harris grabbed him and placed him in a headlock.

That’s when the male suspect ran inside the house armed with a gun. The male suspect kicked in the door to 23-year-old Jesus Sanchez’s bedroom, shortly after, shots were fired.

The male suspect ran from the bedroom still carrying his gun, followed by Sanchez, who once again shot at the suspect, hitting him.  The male suspect then fled the home.

The boy was then able to free himself from Harris’ grasp and yelled for help. That’s when the mother, Sophia Velador, emerged from her room. Harris forced her way into Velador’s room and returned out with her purse. The boy reported that as Harris made her way to the door to flee, he heard more shots fired.

The boy said he saw his brother yank Velador’s purse from Harris, who then began crawling on the ground towards a gold-colored car outside. Velador and another brother, 19-year-old Rogelio Sanchez called 911.

When officers arrived, they found Jesus standing in the yard with an AK-47. As officer’s approached, Sanchez immediately dropped the rifle and complied with the officers’ orders.

Police secured the home and found a black semi-automatic handgun near the front door. Further investigation inside the house revealed another handgun lying on a bed with a trail of blood leading from the house and down the driveway. The gun on the bed belonged to Jesus.

Jesus told police he had used the gun prior to grabbing the AK-47.

Witnesses saw the suspects flee in a gold-colored Oldsmobile, and shortly before 9:30 a.m. officers got a call from North Vista Hospital saying that two people had arrived at their emergency room with gunshot wounds.

The “two people” were the suspects and hospital staff reported to the police that the male suspect was dead. Harris was transported to University Medical Center due to severe injuries.

Harris is facing multiple charges including attempted murder with a deadly weapon, home invasion with a deadly weapon, robbery with a deadly weapon, and conspiracy.

Velador and her four sons were all okay.

Guns in the hands of regular, law-abiding citizens, once again, prevent tragedy.