Port orchard man arrested after shooting intruder

A 72-year-old Port Orchard man was arrested on investigation of manslaughter on Saturday after he apparently shot and killed a fleeing intruder.

According to the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, the 72-year-old called police to say he'd fired shots at a stranger he found inside his home around 3:30 a.m. in the South Park Greens Apartment Homes on Southeast Larch Lane.

The man told police he had been awakened by a noise in his home, had armed himself and left his bedroom to investigate when he found a young, adult male in his living room, the sheriff's office reported.

The 72-year-old man told police the two struggled and then the intruder was pushed out the front door.

The resident fired shots at the intruder's fleeing form, according to Scott Wilson, spokesman for the Kitsap sheriff's office.

The dead intruder's body, which was was not found for several hours, was eventually located face down against the side of an apartment building, police said.

The 72-year-old is being held in Kitsap County Jail on investigation of one count of first-degree manslaughter.

He is being held on $100,00 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Kitsap County Superior Court on Monday.

Police say the issue will be sorted out in court, but in general, it is illegal to shoot in the back a fleeing intruder who no longer poses a threat.

The identity of the dead man will be released following an autopsy by the Kitsap County Coroner.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com