Woman at home in Mesa shoots intruder armed with knife

PHOENIX – Police in Mesa said Thursday a woman shot a man who broke into her home and then came at her with a knife.

The man was wounded in the chest Sept. 18 but the injuries weren’t life-threatening. Elijah Jones, 29, was arrested on charges of first-degree burglary and aggravated assault, police said in an email.

Jones told officers he was high on methamphetamine and didn’t recall threatening the woman. Two warrants were out for his arrest.

Sgt. Jason Flamm said in an email the woman, whose identity was not released, told officers she was working in her backyard near Alma School Road and Main Street around 3:30 a.m. when she was startled by a loud noise.

The woman said her security alerted her there was movement at the carport door. She went inside the house and said she saw the suspect standing in the kitchen.

She said she told the intruder to leave and he reached the carport door before he stopped. She went to her bedroom to retrieve a weapon and when she came out, Jones was still there but now he had armed himself with a large knife.

He came toward her and she fired. Jones fell to the floor, bleeding. The woman called 911.

Jones is on probation and had missed a related appointment.

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