Sheriff deputies say at around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, someone tried to steal a vehicle from a Lillington home on Highway 421 North when the person was confronted by the vehicle's owner and the owner's father-in-law. During an altercation, one of the men shot the suspect.
"I hate it for the boy," said nearby resident Barry Womack. "But you know, that's life."
"You don't steal," said resident Gloria Harrington. "And when you work hard for something, you don't want somebody coming in and stealing your stuff."
Investigators spent Tuesday piecing together the story. They said it could be a tough call whether or not to charge someone with homicide in a case like this.
"If he was in fear, or the person has the capability of harming you, you have the right to defend yourself," said Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins.
Investigators recreated the crime, even using a fire truck's ladder to get a higher view of the scene.
Detectives are still investigating the case, so they aren't releasing many of the details of the incident, including the names of the people involved and if the suspect was armed.
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