Homeowner Shoots Man in Possible Attempted Burglary in Virginia

A homeowner shot another man during a possible burglary attempt in Virginia Tuesday morning, police said.

The homeowner said he was just about to run on his treadmill when he heard someone trying to break into his home on Lenore Lane in the Fairfax County area of Alexandria.

"It was a little terrifying, somebody breaking into your house," he said. "You don't know what to do. So I just ran and got my gun and then I told the guy to stop, but he didn't hear me..."

The homeowner said he fired his gun, and "unfortunately, I hurt the young man."

Fairfax County Police officers responded just after 8:30 a.m.

The man who was shot had run from the house and down to Telegraph Road, where he tried to either flag down or board a bus while bleeding. At that point, an officer pulled up and took him into custody.

The man was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

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A witness who goes by Mr. Willis said that as the man ran from the home, he mumbled to him something along the lines of, "I got the wrong house."

Police aren't calling the man a suspect because he hasn't been charged in the incident.

It's unknown what led to the man being shot, or who fired. The gun involved belongs to a resident of the home.

Mr. Willis said he overheard something leading up to the gunshot. "It was a glass breaking noise," he said. "Like someone was trying to build something."

He then heard a gunshot and spotted the wounded man hunched over and running from the house.

Investigators spent the day going in and out of the house. They said they've got the gun, which belongs to the homeowner. However, they won't yet confirm the theory that the homeowner fired in self-defense.

"I was just shaking," said the homeowner. "I was really terrified. I mean, I didn't even know if I was going to hit the guy. I mean, I didn't aim to shoot to kill him or nothing, so I'm just glad he's doing fine."

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