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‘I just fired one': 84-year-old man shoots, kills home intruder

ELLPORT, Pa. — An elderly man shot and killed one of two intruders at his home early Friday morning in Ellport, Lawrence County, police said.

The 84-year-old man, Don Lutz, was confronted by the intruders about 1:30 a.m. at his Jamison Avenue home, authorities said. An altercation followed.

“I just fired one. It was in the dark. He attacked me and he was up close and I shot him,” Lutz said. “They jumped me and we both went on the floor. I scuffled with them on the floor and the one guy rolled over dead and the other guy, he jumped up and went out the door.”

Police are searching for the second intruder who ran off.

“The other one, maybe the bullet hit him, too. I don’t know. I hope so,” Lutz said.

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Lutz said he keeps his gun under his pillow and was in bed when the intruders broke through his front door.

“I ran into this guy. He grabbed me and the bullet went through his chest, went clean through him. The other guy must have been behind him,” Lutz said.

Police couldn’t find the bullet, which they said might have hit the second intruder.

Investigators believe Lutz might have been targeted. Police have been at his home in the past for other incidents.

Lutz said he’s a little sore after the ordeal, but has no regrets. He credits his faith with keeping him safe.

“I've never been afraid in my life. God has always been with me and I'm a hard believer in God and Jesus Christ,” Lutz said.