A Benicia man who was drinking alcohol with a friend early Wednesday morning was shot by a homeowner when he mistakenly broke into what he thought was his own home, police said.
The 66-year-old homeowner called police around 4:30 a.m. when he saw someone banging on the glass door at the rear of his residence in the 100 block of Panorama Drive, police Lt. Mike Greene said.
The homeowner told the intruder, later identified as 24-year-old True Hatch, to leave several times, but Hatch didn't respond and smashed the glass door with an object he found in the back yard, Greene said.
The homeowner armed himself with a handgun because he feared for his and his wife's safety, Greene said. Hatch entered and walked further inside the home as the homeowner yelled at him to leave, Greene said. The homeowner then shot Hatch once in the torso. Police arrived and took Hatch into custody.
Hatch went to a local hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening injury. Hatch told police he drank a considerable amount of alcohol at a nearby friend's house before he left to walk home, Greene said.
Hatch mistakenly arrived at the Panorama address and broke the sliding glass door because he thought he had locked himself out of his home, Greene said.
Police are still trying to determine where Hatch lives. He was arrested for trespassing, vandalism, prowling and public intoxication, Greene said.
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Authorities said the homeowner will not be prosecuted.
