Homeowner arrested following alleged home invasion

A Shreveport man faces charges in connection to an alleged home invasion last night. 

  Rafeal Sinville, 29, of Shreveport, was arrested and charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, after it was learned he exchanged shots with two men allegedly invading his home.

At approximately 9:35 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 21, 2012), Shreveport Police Officers responded to a home in the 2500 block of Dupont Street relative to a reported home invasion. 

    Upon officers' arrival at the residence, contact was made with Sinville, the homeowner.

  Sinville advised authorities that he was inside his home when he heard a knock at the front door.  He further stated when he opened the door to investigate, two men entered the home, one being armed with a handgun. 

  While inside the home, the men reportedly demanded money and valuables.  It was later learned that during the course of the incident, Sinville retrieved a gun of his own, and shots were allegedly exchanged between the homeowner and one of the suspects. 

Following the robbery attempt, the suspects, described as two black males, fled the scene driving what witnesses described as a dark blue, Ford Crown Victoria with dark wheels.  There were no reports of injuries.

Investigators with the Shreveport Police Department's Tactical Robbery Unit arrived on scene at the home launching an investigation. 

During the course of that investigation, it was learned that the homeowner was in possession of a handgun illegally and was subsequently arrested and charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. 

The two suspects in this case are still outstanding. 

  While investigators attempt to identify and apprehend the suspects, anyone with any information about this crime is urged to contact Shreveport-Caddo Crimestoppers at (318) 673-7373 or Shreveport Detective Richard Turpin at (318) 673-6955.