Holly MatkinOakton, VA – A Virginia homeowner fatally shot an intruder who allegedly entered his house while armed with a large landscaping rock on Wednesday night, according to police.
The incident occurred at a residence located in the 11400-block of Waples Mill Road at approximately 6 p.m. on Nov. 9, WUSA reported.
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said a man was outside his house when he came across a male suspect he did not know on his property.
The homeowner and the suspect got into a physical altercation after some type of confrontation, according to investigators.
Police said the homeowner ultimately retreated into his residence and grabbed a firearm, WUSA reported.
The suspect allegedly barged into the house behind him, carrying a “large landscaping rock,” according to the FCPD.
The homeowner reacted by shooting the intruder, who was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene, WUSA reported.
The resident called 911 immediately after the shooting, according to WTTG.
FCPD detectives were still working to identify the suspect on Thursday morning.
“Hopefully, when we can positively identify this individual, we can maybe start putting some puzzle pieces together,” FCPD Second Lieutenant James Curry told reporters, according to WUSA. “Again, preliminarily, we don’t have any reason to believe there was any connection between the homeowner and this man.”
The suspect was described by police as a “young adult,” according to WTTG.
Officers are on scene of a fatal shooting at a home in the 11400 blk of Waples Mill Rd, Oakton. Man pronounced dead at the scene. All parties are accounted for & there is no apparent ongoing threat to the community. Detectives and a PIO are responding to the scene. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/joSLFTFsgw
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) November 9, 2022
The homeowner was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, WUSA reported.
Investigators said his wife, two children and another adult were all inside the house at the time of the incident.
The residence is located in a secluded area and has a long driveway, WTOP reported.
Investigators said they did not locate a vehicle nearby.
“We’re fortunate nobody else was injured by this incident,” Lt. Curry said, according to WTOP. “It’s still a very, very active investigation. But preliminarily, we are investigating this as a self-defense, fatal shooting.”
