By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 39-year-old man with a gun who confronted a prowler in his yard in Centralia last night ended up shot in his foot with his own weapon, according to what he told police.
The man told police who arrived after the 9:24 p.m. call to the 500 block of Hamilton Avenue that he’d gone outside to feed his cat, saw someone on his property and confronted him, Sgt. Carl Buster said.
Police were told the prowler “rushed” him and struck him in the head with a pipe, Buster said.
The 39-year-old said he began to draw his pistol, but the other guy shoved the gun down, causing the victim to shoot himself, according to police. The victim fired a second round at the suspect while he was running away, police said.
The prowler then disappeared into the night, Buster said.
Police summoned aid for the man, set up “containment” around the area and attempted to find the subject they were told was a white or Hispanic male, Buster said.
A police dog was summoned to assist.
The K-9 sniffed around the yard but could not pick up a scent to track, Buster said.
The victim had a bump on his head as well as the gunshot wound, but has already been released from the hospital, he said.