The attempted burglary happened in Moreno Valley around midnight on Wednesday, according to a statement by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Joe Teague, 93, informed dispatch he had “several subjects at gunpoint” in his residence. When deputies arrived, they found Joseph Ortega, 33, suffering from a gunshot wound. Ortega was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Investigators reported that there were multiple people inside Teague’s home when the shot was fired. Witnesses told deputies that several people fled the scene just before authorities arrived. Malma suspects Teague was targeted because he is a retired plumber and musician.
The press release states that the homeowner is “justified in shooting of an intruder.”