LEESBURG, Fla. – A Lake County sheriff's deputy returned fire and shot an assault rifle-carrying intruder early Wednesday after interrupting a home invasion, authorities said.
The shooting was reported in the 33000 block of Melrose Avenue near Leesburg.
According to the Lake County Sheriff's Office, the intruder shot at the deputy, who returned fire and struck the man.
"As (deputies) made their approach to the home, the suspects actually came out of the house, one of them was armed with a rifle and at that point he engaged our deputy," Lake County sheriff's spokesman John Herrell said.
The man, identified by officials as Sebastian Duane Bradwell, 23, of Sorrento, was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, deputies said.
A second culprit, identified by authorities as Kailon Maurice Harris-Caldwell, 20, of Eustis, was apprehended at the scene, deputies said.
Five adults inside the home were robbed, officials said. One of them was beaten and suffered minor injuries, according to deputies.
"This was not a random home invasion. It was a targeted attack," Herrell said. "We do have a call history at this home. We've had drug calls to this house before."
Herrell said a third person in the getaway car called 911 to report the home invasion, saying he had been kidnapped by the other two men near his home in Tavares.
The man said he was going fishing when he was abducted and driven to the home near Leesburg, according to officials. He said he ran away and called authorities while the other two were breaking into the home, according to deputies.
"From what he described he was able to escape from his kidnappers," Herrell said. "He told (dispatch) a home invasion-robbery was either about to take place or had taken place at this home."
Herrell said deputies have received conflicting information about the man's story and detectives are trying to sort out the details.
No deputies were injured.
"They were very bold and brazen and unfortunately that's just a reality of the times we live in right now," Herrell said of the suspects.
Harris-Caldwell is facing a charge of armed home invasion robbery with a firearm. Bradwell is being charged with armed home invasion robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and five counts of aggravated assault.
Deputies said the two men could be connected to other robberies in Lake County.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, which is standard practice.
No other details have been released.
Breaking: Officer involved shooting along Melrose in Leesburg. Suspect airlifted to hospital, deputy was fired at, but not injured. #news6 pic.twitter.com/U0fte61tB0
— Sachelle Saunders (@SachelleOnAir) June 20, 2018
Watch News 6 and stay with ClickOrlando.com for updates.