Washington homeowner fatally shoots suspected burglar

A Vancouver homeowner fatally shot a person he said had broken into his house late Thursday night, according to the Vancouver Police Department.

Shortly before 10:20 p.m., Vancouver police responded to a residential burglary in progress in the 6000 block of Southeast Beach Drive. Dispatch records also showed a report of a disturbance with a firearm. The neighborhood overlooks Vancouver’s Wintler Park and the Columbia River.

An initial police bulletin said the homeowner told responding officers that an unknown person had broken into his home and that he had confronted the intruder with a firearm and shot him.

“The Vancouver Police Major Crimes Unit are continuing the investigation, which indicates the male suspect forced open a rear door of the residence by kicking it and was inside the home when the homeowner confronted him,” according to an updated police news release.

The suspect reportedly charged at the homeowner, who then fired his weapon. The suspect fled out the door and collapsed behind the residence, the news release states.

The alleged intruder, whose name was not released, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Clark County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct identification and notification of next of kin, according to the police department. Police did not release further details, including whether he was armed.

The homeowner and his family were not injured, police said.