A tense early-morning encounter in Somerset Township ended with a homeowner fatally shooting an alleged intruder after the man broke a window and tried to force his way inside, according to state police. Troopers arrived to find a man dead near the back of the Locust Street residence with an apparent gunshot wound and temporarily detained the homeowner while investigators processed the scene.
Pennsylvania State Police said troopers were called to the home around 2 a.m. and found the body near the rear of the house. The homeowner told investigators he woke up to loud banging on his kitchen window and a man demanding to be let in, and said he warned the man he was armed before firing when the intruder kept trying to get inside, as reported by CBS Pittsburgh.
Somerset County District Attorney Tom Leiden told WTAJ that investigators have already interviewed several people and stressed there is no ongoing danger to the public. As of Monday evening, no charges had been filed, and authorities said the identity of the man who was shot is being withheld.
What the law allows
Under Pennsylvania's criminal code (18 Pa.C.S. § 505), a person inside a dwelling may use force, including deadly force, in self-protection when they reasonably believe it is necessary to stop an unlawful entry or to prevent imminent death or serious bodily injury. The statute also includes civil-immunity provisions that can apply when a shooting is found to be justified, with prosecutors reviewing evidence and statements to determine whether those protections apply, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
What's next
State police said their preliminary findings indicate the homeowner acted in self-defense, and both troopers and the Somerset County district attorney's office will continue to evaluate the case as the investigation moves forward. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Somerset at 814-445-4104, according to CBS Pittsburgh.
