JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is investigating a fatal shooting in northwest Jacksonville Saturday.
According to police, a black man in his early 20s broke into a home at 2742 Aubrey Avenue around 10 a.m. while the owner was inside.
"The suspect broke into a side window, during that break-in the homeowner approached the suspect and fired a shot. The suspect was struck and transported to UF hospital where he died," said JSO Sgt. Jay Farhat. "We are currently interviewing the homeowner now."
Sgt. Farhat told Channel 4 that the homeowner did not live in the home that was broken into, but owned the property.
"That was one of his rental houses and he spent the night there last night and was doing some work on the house and was actually about to leave when the break-in occurred," said Sgt. Farhat.
At this time, police said, the shooting appeared to be justified and the homeowner is not being charged for the shooting. However, the homeowner was taken to jail Saturday, charged with a misdemeanor violation of injunction for having a firearm.
"It appears that there was an injunction for protection filed against him earlier sometime last year and the stipulation was he was not suppose to have a firearm on him. So at this point in time we will be charging him with a misdemeanor violation of injunction however, the shooting itself appears to be justifiable," said Sgt. Farhat.
Phyllis Pitts says she doesn't feel safe anymore in the neighborhood she's lived in for 27 years. She says the house across the street has been burglarized before -- but she never expected what happened Saturday morning.
"Sometimes I feel skiddish myself being here because I hear noises and I look out and don't see nobody and its dark on that side I don't have light on that side," Pitts said.
"The way it is now, people have to protect themselves so I guess that's whats going on."