Charges filed against Bucks County man who shot alleged car thief

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Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice

A Bucks County man who took justice into his own hands and shot a thief trying to break into his car was charged on Friday with a crime.

The incident occurred Thursday around 5:30 a.m. when Joshua Dennis attempted to break into a parked car in the Woodland Manor Apartments in Morrisville. The owner of the car, Baishaun Jones, grabbed a legally owned and permitted gun and prevented the theft, according to CBS3.

Dennis fled in a separate vehicle as Jones entered his car and a chase ensued. The chase ended when Dennis lost control of the vehicle and crashed at the intersection of East Bridge and North Pennsylvania Avenues. Jones fired three shots, striking Dennis once in the elbow.

Dennis, who was unarmed, was taken into police custody and rushed to a local hospital.

Jones was charged with three counts of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person.

According to CBS3, Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler said the use of deadly force is only lawful when it is necessary to prevent immediate death of seriously bodily injury.