Man shoots, wounds alleged burglar

A man shot an alleged burglar trying to break into his Harney Heights home Thursday morning, and police say the two men knew each other.

“This incident does not appear random,” said Kim Kapp, a Vancouver police spokeswoman.

The shooting was reported at 11:48 a.m. at 3512 E. McLoughlin Blvd., a modest, 1960s-style ranch house on a residential street. According to police, a 22-year-old man came to the house, tried to gain entry and was confronted by a male occupant. They argued, and the resident shot the intruder in the face.

The burglary suspect was seriously wounded, but conscious. He was transported to Southwest Washington Medical Center, said Kim Kapp, police spokeswoman.

Police did not release their names, citing the ongoing investigation.

Witnesses at the scene saw a woman, apparently a friend of the wounded man, being escorted to a police car.

Two handguns were seen lying on the ground across the street from the home where the confrontation took place.

Caleb Dittmer, who lives about a block away, said one handgun belonged to his neighbor and the other to the man who was shot.

He said the injured man was shot in the cheek. “Where your dimple would be,” he said, pointing to his own face.

Dittmer said he ran into the street to find the alleged burglar lying on the ground. He said he thought the bullet might have still been lodged in his face.

“He wasn’t in shock at all,” Dittmer said. “He looked fine.”

His neighbor, he said, told him the man “broke into his house, stole things from him and he shot him.”

Dave Gellis lives around the corner. He said he was cooking ribs for a football party when he heard police sirens.

He saw a woman dressed in a black sweater and jeans who was “crying and screaming.”

She had apparently planned to drive the suspect from the scene when the resident disrupted their getaway.

McLoughlin Boulevard was closed in the area and C-Tran buses were rerouted while the investigation continued.

No arrests were made as of Thursday evening, Kapp said.