Two suspects have been charged with attempted murder and attempted burglary after a botched home invasion in the Town of Maine.
At 10 p.m. on Aug. 23, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of an attempted home invasion on Bradley Creek Road. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found that a masked suspect had attempted to illegally enter the home and pointed a gun at the homeowner.
The homeowner defended himself and his home, exchanging gunfire with the suspect in front of his house. The homeowner shot two shots and the suspect fired eight. The suspect eventually fled the area before deputies arrived.
The homeowner was unharmed and within his legal right to defend himself and his home. Through an ongoing investigation, detectives identified two suspects involved in the attempted burglary: Binghamton residents Jayvon Phillip, 21, and Rozlyn Warthen, 31. The suspects were armed with illegal handguns when they approached the home.
Phillip sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and is being treated at a hospital. It is unclear what his condition is at this time. Both Phillip and Warthen have been charged with attempted murder in the second degree, criminal liability for the conduct of another, attempted burglary in the first degree, and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree.
The Sheriff’s Office emphasizes that this incident was not a random attack and that the homeowner was specifically targeted.
Sheriff David Harder said, “This is a reminder of the seriousness of home invasions. People have a right to protect themselves and to protect their property.”
Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Broome County Sheriff’s Office at 607-778-1196. The investigation is ongoing.