Repo Man’s Life Saved from Shotgun Blast by Laptop in Truck

No, this isn't "The" Laptop"
No, this isn’t “The” laptop in the story.

Poway, CA – 13 April 2018 – A Poway man is accused of attempted murder, after authorities say he blasted a shotgun at a repo man trying to tow off his truck — a blast that was stopped by the computer between the two men, a prosecutor said Thursday.

The incident on Monday landed the alleged gunman, Joseph Silva, in jail and looking at more than 22 years in prison if convicted of a host of felonies, which also include child cruelty and possession of methamphetamine for sale.

On Wednesday, a San Diego Superior Court judge set Silva’s bail at $1 million, Deputy District Attorney Meghan Buckner said.

The prosecutor said that 47-year-old Silva, his 28-year-old girlfriend and a 7-year-old girl live in a granny flat on Silva’s uncle’s property on Old Coach Road off Espola Road. She said the repo company had notified Silva and Silva’s uncle of the plan to take back Silva’s Chevrolet pickup.

After the repo man arrived in a tow truck about 2:30 p.m. Monday, the little girl told Silva his car was being hauled off.

Silva grabbed a shotgun, the prosecutor said, and he and his girlfriend began to rip off the tethers hooking the pickup to the tow truck.

At some point, the repo man got behind the wheel of the tow truck. Silva stood on the passenger side, racked his shotgun, pointed it at him and pulled the trigger, Buckner said.

The blast was blocked by the metal computer housing in the truck between the two men.

The repo man took off in the truck, but the defendant dropped the gun, got into a second vehicle and tried to block him, the prosecutor said.

The Sheriff’s Department said deputies were on scene pretty quickly, before the repo man left, and were able to arrest Silva. Sheriff’s officials said no one was injured.

On Wednesday, Silva’s girlfriend was also arrested, accused of being an accessory after the fact. Buckner said the woman had picked up the gun, wrapped it in fabric and placed in back in the shed. She is slated to be arraigned Friday on charges that could land her in custody for more than seven years.

Aside from the incident with the repo man, the couple is also accused of being felons in possession of a weapon and child cruelty, and Silva is charged with possession of drugs for sale.

Buckner said that deputies found 27 grams of meth in the home as well as several syringes loaded with heroin, and cocaine.

 

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

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