Fayetteville, N.C. — Authorities are investigating the death of a man whom a homeowner shot during an alleged home invasion.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Fayetteville police officers responded to an unit at the Lake Shore Grand Luxury Apartments at 5508 Faith Drive in reference to a home invasion.

Investigators said four men entered the residence armed with a weapon while the occupant was home. Police said the homeowner heard the men enter the residence, armed himself and fired, shooting one of them.

"Its just disappointing, being in a community that is so removed from Fayetteville,” said neighbor SPC Bruce Barnes. “Why would this ever happen to us back here?"

Police said all four men fled the scene and drove to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where the wounded suspect died.

They identified the dead man as Buchkechio Geddie, 16, of 3200 Winesap Road in Hope Mills.

The three arrested were Michael Fripp, 22,  of 5051 Woodspring Road, Fayetteville; Torrian Knowles, 18, of 506 Pinewood Drive, Hope Mills, and Kwuamae Keaton, 17, of 6536 Foxberry Road, Fayetteville.

Police said the homeowner's name is being withheld to protect his safety.

Fripp, Knowles and Keaton face charges of first-degree burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary, police said. They charged Fripp with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The management of Lake Shore Grande apartments went door-to-door Wednesday, passing out letters to alert residents of the incident.

"You think that this is safe," Barnes said. "But this is a country at war, obviously, and our own community is not even safe."