Serial Burglar Wakes Homeowner With Shotgun

By Matt Wiley

The thought of waking up to find a burglar in your home is Hollywood horror movie material, but it’s an unfortunate reality for one Wesley Chapel couple.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), just before 2 a.m. on July 12, 21-year-old Michael Jose Zamora-Norris, of Tampa, was taken into custody after fleeing from the home he attempted to burglarize in the middle of the night while the victims were sleeping. 

The PCSO report says that Zamora-Norris entered the home without permission while the residents were asleep. The female victim awoke to find Zamora-Norris walking through her living room. Alarmed, she woke her husband, who loaded two rounds into his shotgun and went to confront the intruder.

Zamora-Norris fled into a bathroom and attempted to slam the door, the report says. However, the homeowner was able to get the barrel of his shotgun through the crack in the door and fired a shot, as the burglar escaped through the bathroom window.

Using a K-9 unit, PCSO deputies located Zamora-Norris and took him into custody near the intersection of Boyette Rd. and Wells Rd. He later was found to be on active probation in Hillsborough County for another occupied burglary. At our press time, Zamora-Norris was still in custody at the Land O’Lakes Detention Center on a $20,000 bond.