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Lee County, FL - A prowler attempting to break into cars in the early hours of the morning was fatally shot during a confrontation with a vehicle owner who was sitting behind the wheel.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Saturday in Lehigh Acres, a residential community about 140 miles southeast of Tampa.
Deputies responded to a call and found a man lying in front of a home with gunshot wounds.
Life-saving measures were performed, but the suspect was later pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital.
His identity has not yet been released.
According to investigators, the vehicle owner was seated in their parked car, preparing to leave for work, when the prowler approached and attempted to open the car door.
The unexpected encounter escalated into a physical struggle in the yard, during which the vehicle owner, who was armed, fired fatal shots.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect had reportedly attempted to break into five additional cars in the neighborhood shortly before the altercation.
Detectives conducted a canvas of the area and collected evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.
The case remains under investigation, and no charges have been announced at this time.