From various sources, but I'll cite SWR (public TV) for the main part of the story.....four 'gentlemen' felt compelled to go and break into a house in the Landstuhl area. The house was occupied by an American civilian who works for the US Army. He, his wife, and kids were at home while the four 'gentlemen' were attempting a door entry.
Somewhere in the mix of things, the wife hears the commotion downstairs, and comes down. Realizing the danger....she runs back upstairs to ensure the safety of the kid. One of the German guys gives chase and is attempting to hold onto her. The American guy went into defense mode....grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed the first robber. The wife got into the episode, and there was enough of a mess now....that the three robbers grabbed their associate and left (via car).
Somewhere down the road, in Krickenbach, about 15 minutes away.....they determined that their wounded associate was in bad shape, and they dumped him (with the brother) on the city street there. The brother of the wounded guy....told witnesses to call for an ambulance.
The wounded guy died shortly after that. The brother? He was picked up later by the cops.
An intense review by the police has occurred and it appears that the American is cleared....it was self-defense. The other two guys? Cops are still looking for them. Nationalities? The dead guy and his brother are Germans....less is known about the other two.
This type of break-in? It's just awful rare that 'bold' break-in's like this occur in Germany. The general tactic that you see in Germany is that robbers will only move onto a house where they are sure that the occupants are not at home. Most break-in's have one or two individuals involved. So it begs questions how these four went to an alternate strategy. They may have had some idea of a safe or gold-stash being involved.
The million-dollar quote? The American, when interviewed by Stars and Stripes reporters....went to describe the situation, and then said 'fought like hell'.
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