Female homeowner shoots, kills intruder inside her home in San Bernardino County

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. (FOX 11) - A woman shot and killed an intruder inside her Lucerne Valley home overnight Tuesday, deputies said.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, around 12:28 a.m., deputies from the Victor Valley Sheriff's Station responded to a residence in the 35000 block of Harvest Moon Street in Lucerne Valley following the report of a shooting.

Inside the home, deputies located the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Shea Manigult, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Deputies and emergency medical personnel attempted life-saving measures; however, the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.

The female homeowner told deputies that she was asleep in her home when she her dog started barking, waking her up. The victim entered a bedroom where she saw Manigult hiding, deputies said. The victim told deputies that she became frightened and yelled at the man, telling him he didn't belong inside her home. The homeowner then returned to the living room and armed herself with a gun, deputies said.

Authorities said Manigult approached the victim, and, fearing for her safety, she fired once at the suspect, striking him.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Manigult had forced entry into the home prior to the victim locating him in the bedroom.

The victim has not been arrested.

The investigation is ongoing and the case will be given to the District Attorney's Office for review.

Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Detective Eric Stoll at 909-387-3589 or Sheriff's dispatch at 909-387-8313.