Lieutenant Bobby Martin said the shooting of Ricardo Keith Harley falls under the Castle Doctrine, which went into effect this month, and is the first case under the new law to be reported in Halifax County.
Martin called the home invasion a botched robbery over drugs.
The sheriff's office received the call shortly after 8:15 p.m. when the home owner reported one person knocked on the door and was allowed in. Once that person was in, three others rushed in, kicking in the door and telling everyone inside the residence on Short Street in Littleton to hit the floor.
A shot was fired and the homeowner was able to get a shotgun and fired back, striking Harley. Martin declined to say where Harley was hit but did note he was wearing body armor, which is becoming a trend among home invasion suspects.
The homeowner detained one of the suspects who was taken into custody when Deputy Corey Griffin arrived.
Two others fled and the person detained, Kayman Northington, was arrested.
None of the five people in the house were harmed.
In the confusion of the evening there was no physical description available for the two other suspects.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call the sheriff's office at 252-583-8051 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
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