A man in LaPorte County, Indiana, awoke Monday to find an intruder breaking into his home with a hatchet. When the resident confronted the intruder, a fight ensued, and with the resident eventually shooting and killing the intruder, who apparently used a moped as his vehicle of choice. Here’s the story:

Police say an apparent home invasion suspect, armed with a hatchet, was shot in the chest and killed in LaPorte County Monday.

The LaPorte County coroner tells us 22-year-old Jason Rabe (RAY-bee) of Three Oaks died from a gunshot wound to the chest.

This happened just after 9 a.m. LaPorte time at 6749 E. 1000 North.

According to LaPorte County Sheriff Mike Mollenhauer, a middle-aged renter called 911 just after 9 a.m. saying he’d shot an intruder. Police arrived at the extremely rural home to find a man in his 20s shot dead.

Investigators have learned that the person in the home was awakened to the sound of breaking glass. He armed himself with a pistol and found the intruder in his home, according to police.

Police say Rabe was armed with a hatchet and after a fight he was shot by the renter.

Police are hesitant to call this a home invasion.

“I’m not going to confirm it. That’s what it apparently appears to be right now,” said Mollenhauer. “Of course we’re looking into that. There could be additional circumstances and that’s why I don’t want to say for sure.

Rabe entered the home through a rear window, according to police. Police also say it is believed he arrived at the home by moped.

Neighbors should always be vigilant, but the sheriff says they are not believed to be in any danger at this point.

The renter went to the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office to give a statement to investigators.

The owners of the home live in another house, about 1/8 of a mile behind the house where the incident occurred.

A neighbor told WSBT the renter/shooter works overnights as a delivery driver and says the man was sleeping when he heard someone breaking into his house. He confronted the alleged intruder and shot him. Neighbor say the renter has lived there about a year and is a very nice man.

Rabe’s death has been ruled as a homicide because someone took the life of another person, according to the coroner’s report. It’s up to investigators and the prosecutor to decide whether the man who rents that home was justified in shooting Rabe.

Full release from Laporte County Sheriff’s office:

On Monday, July 8, 2013 at approximately 9:15 CST, the La Porte County Regional 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a homeowner who reported that his home had just been burglarized and he had shot the intruder. Deputies from the La Porte County Sheriff’s Office were immediately dispatched to the residence, which is located in the 6700 East block of County Road 1000 North.

Upon arrival deputies located the suspect in the home, deceased from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Investigators have learned that the homeowner was in his home sleeping when he was awakened to the sound of breaking glass. He armed himself with a pistol and began to investigate the noise and found a single intruder in his home. The suspect was armed with a hatchet and after a physical confrontation, the suspect was shot by the homeowner. The homeowner then immediately called 911. The homeowner was checked by La Porte County Emergency Medical Service personnel but he declined further treatment.

Investigators have determined that the suspect entered the home via a rear window that he had shattered. It is believed that he arrived at the home of the victim by moped and the victim did not know the suspect. It is believed that the suspect resides in Three Oaks Township, Michigan and he has yet to be identified pending notification of next of kin.
Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office remain on scene and continue to investigate this incident.

The public is encouraged to contact lead investigator Detective Andy Hynek at (219) 326-7700 ext. 2401 should they have additional information about this or similar offenses.