I love feisty old guys.

A burglary suspect, who was shot by an elderly Hampton man after he was found hiding in a closet, remains hospitalized Tuesday.

Police say a 76-year-old man called 911 after he heard loud noises at his home in the 100 block of Patterson Ave. around 2 a.m. Tuesday.

According to police, officers searched the home and located a broken window but no suspect.

Shortly after police left the home, the elderly man found the suspect hiding in a closet.  Fearing for his safety, police say the man shot the suspect in the arm.

According to police, the suspect then ran from the home.

After hearing the gunfire, officers ran to the backyard and arrested the suspect.

Make sure that you watch the video at the top of the article. It’s short, and gives some flavor for the story that the text just can’t match. The homeowner is described as “an airborne Ranger” and is wearing a 101st Airborne hat. According to the reporter the senior was unfazed about the shooting, and after spending a little time with the reporter to tell his story, he shooed the journalist away so that he could make something to eat.

The suspect was much younger and presumably stronger than the homeowner. How do you think the situation might have ended differently if the old paratrooper didn’t have a pistol in his hands when he encountered the burglar hiding in his closet?