VISTA, Calif. — Detectives with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a homicide that took place at a home in Vista Thursday morning. The homeowner called 911 moments before the shooting occurred.
“Our dispatch received the call from the homeowner saying someone was trying to break into his home, a short time later, I’m not sure how long, they heard a gunshot,” said Lt. Joseph Jarjura with the Sheriff’s Department Homicide Unit.
The shooting happened just before 5:00 a.m. while the dispatcher was still on the line. Deputies then arrived to the 1700 block of York Drive.
“They found a suspect with a gunshot wound. Deputies provided medical aid, the suspect was then transferred to the hospital by paramedics,” said Jarjura. “He was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.”
The homeowner was the only person home at the time and was not injured. The identity of the deceased suspect is unknown at this time.
“We’re talking to neighbors, looking for video surveillance,” said Jarjura. “We’ll collect evidence, photographs, and we’ll try to determine what happened.”
So what are the legalities involved when defending yourself in your own home?
“The use of lethal force is a very complex issue,” said Michael Schwartz, Executive Director of San Diego County Gun Owners PAC. “Inside your home, there’s no requirement for you to have to retreat, and in California, in general, if someone has broken into your home, the law tends to be in favor of the homeowner.”
Schwartz says while typically someone can lawfully defend themselves with lethal force in their own home, there can be nuances in these types of cases.
“How did the person break in? What was the motivation for the person who broke in? Was the person fleeing?” asked Schwartz. “If someone has broken into your home, that’s definitely a big factor in proving that you reasonably believed that your life was in danger.”
As of now, the homeowner is not facing any charges. As detectives continue to investigate the scene, CBS 8 will bring you the latest details when they are released.