Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SOUTH SALT LAKE — A man was hospitalized with gunshot wounds early Sunday after police say he broke into a South Salt Lake apartment and was shot.
It is the second incident in Salt Lake County in three days where an alleged intruder was shot in a home.
The shooting occurred just before 4:30 a.m. at the gated Brickstone Apartments, 220 E. 3300 South.
"There does appear to be some forced entry into that apartment. It's still under investigation at this time as to exactly what happened," said South Salt Lake Police Sgt. Matthew Oehler.
Investigators say it appeared the man made it into the apartment and there was some kind of confrontation before the shooting. They said the 35-year-old man was shot with a handgun in the upper part of his body. He also called 911 for help.
He was taken to a hospital but his condition was stable, Oehler said. His name was not released Sunday.
The person who lives in the apartment and shot the man has been cooperating with police, he said. That person has also not been identified.
"We don't know if this is a case of self-defense at this point in time," the sergeant said. "That's under investigation. But I believe the law in Utah is very clear with respect to self-defense."
About 5:30 a.m. Friday in West Jordan, a homeowner, 26, heard the garage door opening at his home, 6846 W. 7605 South, and brought a gun to investigate. He confronted and shot Makayla Yeaman, 23, killing her.
Three other people were sleeping inside the house at the time. The homeowner was questioned and later released. The shooting death is still under investigation.
Police say homeowners are generally within their rights to shoot someone who breaks into their home to defend themselves.
"Utah law allows an individual or homeowner, anywhere they have a lawful right to be, that individual who is lawfully possessing a firearm has a right to defend themselves," Oehler said. "If someone enters tumultuously or if someone enters a home otherwise surreptitiously, that individual has a right to defend themselves."
