Sarasota homeowner shoots and kills man breaking into his house, cops say

A man who authorities said had recently suffered a “mental health issue” was shot to death late Tuesday, apparently as he tried to break into a home, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office.

At around 11:17 p.m. Tuesday night, Sarasota County sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in the 4500 block of 47th Street in response to a shooting.

Deputies reported that an individual had been found dead at the scene.

Deputies say about 15 minutes prior to the shooting, the family of 29-year-old Aaron Pischer had called emergency responders, saying Pischer had suffered a recent “mental health issue.” While attempting to locate Pischer just two blocks away, 911 dispatchers reported the shooting.

On Wednesday morning, the sheriff’s office said the homeowner had shot a Pischer as he was attempting to break into the home, noting the homeowner and Pischer did not know one another.

“Detectives and forensics personnel are currently processing the crime scene with support from the Medical Examiner’s Office,” the sheriff’s office said Wednesday. “Additional details will be released later today.”

Deputies said Pischer has one prior arrest in Sarasota County, for theft, in 2018.

This story was originally published June 2, 2021 at 10:25 AM.