Sheriff: Florida mother shot burglar who entered home because 'dinosaurs were chasing him'



DELTONA, Fla. - A Florida man was shot by a mother of three after deputies say he broke into her Deltona, Florida home early Tuesday morning, March 31 because he thought that dinosaurs were chasing him.

Officials with the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said this happened at a home on the 2600 block of Libby Court.

According to deputies, Joseph Roberts, 32, tried to break into the home around 5:45 a.m. by shattering a front window.

"The woman inside, a 42-year-old mother with several teenagers in the house, called 911, saying, 'I don't want to shoot him, but I'm going to have to! Get out of my window! Get out of my window!'"



Sheriff Mike Chitwood said during a press conference that the mother gave White several verbal warnings to leave. When he didn't, she opened fire.

When deputies arrived, the sheriff said they found Roberts in the house -- and he had quite an interesting story.

"He told us that the dinosaurs were chasing him and he thought he got some bad weed," said Chitwood.

White was airlifted to Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford with injuries not believed to be life-threatening after he was shot in the forearm.

"He's lucky she was a bad shot," said Chitwood.

Chitwood said they were seeking an enhanced penalty for committing a burglary during a national emergency.

"I guess the only explanation is watch where you're buying your weed at during this time," said Chitwood.