Intruder forces his way into home in middle of night, assaults resident, deputies say. But victim grabs handgun and fatally shoots alleged attacker.

Authorities in South Carolina said a 29-year-old man forced his way into a Blacksburg home shortly after 2:20 a.m. Wednesday and began assaulting a resident, WSPA-TV reported.

Image source: WSPA-TV video screenshot

The Cherokee County Sheriff’s office said the resident, in fear for his safety, fired a single shot and struck the alleged intruder in the chest, the station said.

The shot man — identified as Roger Robertson — fled the residence on Deana Lane, entered a waiting vehicle, and wound up at Cherokee Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:28 a.m., WSPA reported, citing the coroner’s office.

What happened to the resident?

The resident also was taken to the hospital and treated for his injuries stemming from the burglary, the station said.

Investigators determined the victim knew Robertson, WSPA added.

'Thank God' he was 'able to access his handgun'

Lee Tallent, brother of the resident who fired the shot, told the station he was roused from his sleep by a scary call from his mother.

“She was very erratic, barely speaking,” Tallent told WSPA.

Lee Tallent, brother of resident who fired the shotImage source: WSPA-TV video screenshot

He noted to the station after more talking he'd "figured out that my little brother had fired a shot. Somebody had broke into the house, busted through the front door, and started attacking my little brother with an object.”

Tallent was relieved his brother had a gun for protection.

“My little brother was just able, thank God ... to access his handgun and fire a point shot,” he told the station. “It makes me feel like I wish I had been here. Me and my brother are real close. We are like night and day, but we are real close. I’ve always had his back, and he’s always had my back. And so I hate that I wasn’t here to help him.”

Sadness

Tallent also told WSPA his family's main emotion is sadness.

“I’ve been here with my mom for a couple of hours and she’s been pretty upset. She’s tore up about it, and I know my little brother is tore up about it, too,” he told the station. “The last thing he would ever want is to take somebody’s life.”