Police: Homeowner wounded in shootout with home invaders

FAIRBURN, Ga. — Fairburn police say a homeowner was shot when he pulled a gun on three armed intruders.

Police told Channel 2's Amanda Cook the men broke into a home on Greenwood Trace around 4:15 a.m. The homeowner's uncle, Frank Johnson, said they were awake watching TV when they heard the back door crash in and bullets began flying.

Johnson said he ran to a closet and called 911 because he did not have a gun to defend himself against the masked men.

The 40-year-old homeowner grabbed his own gun and a shootout ensued, police said. He was shot several times and rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital.

It is unclear if any of the intruders were shot.

Johnson said his nephew is paralyzed from the waist down due to a previous shooting in Lousiana.

Police said the gunmen demanded cash, and when there was none in the house, they stole the homeowner's cellphone.

Police said they are still working to gather details about the gunmen and what kind of vehicle they were in.

WSBTV