Downtown Missoula Homeowner Shoots Intruder

A Missoula homeowner, 77, shot and seriously wounded an intruder early Sunday morning, September 15, at his home in downtown Missoula.

Sergeant Jake Rosling with the Missoula Police Department said the incident occurred at about 2:00 a.m.

"When police arrived at the scene, they found a 22 year-old man who had sustained a gunshot wound to his torso," Rosling said. "The male was inside the home when the incident occurred. He was transported to Missoula's St. Patrick Hospital, where he was reported in serious condition after surgery."

Rosling said the unidentified homeowner shot the intruder in the stomach from a distance of about 10 feet with a .357 caliber handgun. Rosling said he did not believe the intruder was armed. The homeowner is cooperating with the investigation, and no arrest has yet been made in the case.

Rosling said he believed what is called the castle doctrine, in which a homeowner is allowed to use force to protect his property, may apply in this case.

Rosling said detectives from the Missoula Police Department were at St. Patrick Hospital interviewing the wounded intruder on Sunday afternoon.

Rosling is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Adams at the police department.