TOLEDO, Wash. - A 62-year-old Toledo resident shot and killed a man he said broke into his home Tuesday night.
According to Lewis County detectives, the homeowner was awakened by a noise around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The homeowner told police someone had broken into his home and started climbing up the stairs toward the man's bedroom.
The man said he repeatedly told the stranger to "freeze." The homeowner said he fired at the man when he refused to stop coming toward him. The alleged burglar died from the gunshot wound.
The suspect has been identified as 45-year-old Mark Michel who lived just a short distance away.
Terry Hanson, Michel's former boss at Washington Truck Rebuilders, said Michel was a father of two and a good mechanic, but he also called him a liar with alcohol problems.
"He was very talented, but he wasn't very bright," he said.
The homeowner is being investigated to determine if he acted in self-defense. He has not been taken into custody.
His fiance was also in the house at the time.
The sheriff believes he was justified in his actions.
"From what we know now, there was a direct threat to the homeowner and his family. He did everything that we think is possible to avert the use of deadly force," he said.
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