ST. CLOUD, Fla. – A homeowner shot and killed an intruder Wednesday night in Osceola County, according to authorities.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said Bo Alexander Garris, 30, died in the shooting, which happened around 9:45 p.m. at a home on Aladdin Court in St. Cloud.
Deputies said Garris was shot multiple times Wednesday night after he tried to break into his neighbor's home while they were inside. They said he was seen hours before the shooting walking home from a nearby bar.
"The deputy had seen the suspect walking on the side of the road he stopped to talk to him and the suspect indicated he was leaving a local bar," PIO Twis Lizasuain said.
Deputies said the homeowner, his wife and a friend were in the living room when they heard what sounded like someone entering the back of the home.
The homeowner said he retrieved a gun and walked to the back of the house, according to deputies.
The Sheriff's Office said a man, later identified as Garris, had entered the screened-in porch and was attempting to open the door that leads into the kitchen.
The homeowner asked the man who he was and told him to leave, but Garris lunged at him, so the homeowner fired his weapon, deputies said. Garris pushed the homeowner onto a table and was on top of him, causing the homeowner to shoot a second time, deputies said.
"They heard what sounded like someone trying to break into their home. He obtained a weapon, walked to the back of the residence and confronted an unknown suspect," Lizasuain said.
"My friend defended his home as he felt he needed to and that's all they're going to say right now," said family friend Jerry Hoffman.
Garris was taken to St. Cloud Regional Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, deputies said.
"It is unfortunate that the suspect died, but the homeowner felt like he did what he had to do to protect himself," Lizasuain said.
Detectives determined that the homeowner did not know Garris, who lived nearby.
Officials said Garris has a criminal history, including arrests on drug, battery and trespassing charges.
Based on the circumstances of the incident, detectives said the homeowner does not face charges.
An investigation is ongoing.