Burglar Breaks Into Home of Armed Off-Duty Sheriff’s Deputy -- And It's the Last Thing He Ever Did

An off-duty sheriff's deputy in Fort Washington, Maryland fatally shot a man he found breaking into his home Tuesday night, according to Prince George's County police. The deputy has reportedly been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident, WJLA-TV reports.

The deputy arrived home at around 11 p.m. Tuesday to find his front door busted open. He quickly realized that a suspected burglar was in his home so he pulled out his firearm and confronted the home intruder.

“He had a confrontation with the suspect which led to the homeowner shooting the suspect,” Cpl. Larry Johnson said.

The off-duty deputy shot the burglary suspect inside the home but he then ran outside after he was hit, police said. It was unclear whether he died at the scene or was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"There is a very strong argument for home owners if they are inside their home. There is a strong presumption that they fear for their safety if they end up shooting a suspect,"Lt. William Alexander of the Prince George's Police Department said.

The Alexandria Sheriff's Office has not identified the deputy, but did confirm he has been placed on administrative leave pending completion of an investigation into the incident. Officials say the deputy killed the suspect with a gun that was not his service weapon.

Police identified the dead suspected burglar as 20-year-old Jon Adgrain Pocknett of Indian Head, Maryland.

Another question that remains to be answered is whether the burglary suspect was armed. Police are also investigating whether one or more additional suspects were at the house.

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