Man shot during home invasion

By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
August 22, 2004
An unidentified man who forced his way into the home of a woman in the Russell Community Friday afternoon is recovering today at a local hospital from a gunshot wound.
Maj. Ward Calhoun, a spokesman for the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, said the man who came to the victim's door about 6:30 p.m. was a casual acquaintance. Calhoun said the two struggled, and then the woman was tied up.
She free herself, Calhoun said, retrieved a small handgun and shot the man once in the back. She then called 911.
The woman was treated and released at a local hospital for injuries she received during the attack.
The intruder drove himself to a stranger's house, Calhoun said, and was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Calhoun said robbery was a possible motive and expects charges to be filed against the man in the next couple of days but he declined to identify either the attacker or the victim.
He reminded residents to be careful about answering the door: "Be sure who it is and don't open it if it's someone you don't know."