Police: Homeowner shoots intruder during break-in attempt

A man remains hospitalized Wednesday after police said he was shot while attempting to break into a Temple Hills home.

Prince George's County police said an unidentified man walked up to the front door of a single family home on Brinkley Road just before 2 a.m. and began to open the front storm door. A dog inside the home heard the commotion, according to police, and alerted the couple who lives in the home.

As the woman inside dialed 911, the man grabbed a pistol and headed to the front door, police said. The armed homeowner began yelling for the intruder to get away before using his weapon.

"Well, he had a very large stick with him and he had used that to pry through the storm door and he still had it in his hand when he was fired upon through the door," said Lt. David Coleman of the Prince George's County Police Department. "At this point, we have been told by the homeowner that he advised the suspect numerous times to get away from his door, loudly, in a way he could hear through the door."

The two men did not know each other and charges are pending against the man who was shot.

Police said the homeowner owned the gun legally and appeared to be within his rights under state law to protect himself and his family.