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Leaping St. Pete Shooting Victim Mistaken For Thief

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TBO.com

Published: December 12, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - When he leapt through a window of a St. Petersburg home this morning, Christopher A. Alexander was mistaken for a burglar.

Only he was the victim of a crime, not the perpetrator, police say.

Alexander had just been shot in the leg by a man who had robbed him. He then tried eluding the pursuing thief by leaping through the window of a residence, where he was mistaken for a burglar, St. Petersburg police say.

Alexander was not charged with burglary, but he wants the man who robbed him identified and prosecuted, said St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa.

Alexander's money was taken from him by an armed robber at 2:42 a.m. in the vicinity of 35th Street and Third Avenue North, Kajtsa said. After the thief got the cash, he fired multiple rounds at Alexander, hitting him once in the leg, Kajtsa said.

To escape the thief, Alexander ran and leapt through the glass window of a home, where the resident thought he was a burglar, Kajtsa said. The resident detained Alexander until police arrived, Kajtsa said.

The armed robber has not been identified.

In addition to the gunshot wound to the leg, Alexander suffered lacerations as a result of leaping through the window, Kajtsa said.

Stay with TBO.com for updates.

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