Wounded man trades shots with intruders to protect family. But cops charge him after perps run off.

Carey Crowder said he answered the door at his Carrollton, Georgia, apartment and a group of intruders forced their way in and told "me and and my family to get down on the ground," WAGA-TV reported.

With that, Crowder and his fiance Olivia — who's now his wife — ran for cover from dozens of shots, the station said.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

How else did Crowder respond?

But Crowder also got his handgun, WAGA said, and started firing back at the home invaders.

The intruders ran off, the station said, and Crowder was wounded in his leg several times by gunfire.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

One might be inclined to assume the story ended there with a sigh of relief, but the victim's troubles were just beginning.

'I wasn't doing anything but protecting my family'

You see, Crowder had been in trouble with the law and isn't allowed to possess firearms, WAGA said. And when authorities arrived at the scene of the home invasion, they identified Crowder — who now faces a charge of gun possession by a felon, the station reported.

"I wasn't doing anything but protecting my family," Crowder told WAGA. "It ain't like I was walking around with a firearm."

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

What does Crowder's attorney have to say?

Crowder's attorney Samuel Rael told the station his client is employed, trying to turn his life around, and was a "hero" in this instance.

"He did sustain these injuries and protect his family," Rael added to WAGA, noting that the charge against Crowder is "wrong."

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

Rael is trying to get the Carroll County district attorney to drop the gun possession charge, the station said.

The attorney on Tuesday told TheBlaze that Crowder was indicted last June for the October 2016 incident and spent three months in jail. Crowder's final hearing is June 20, Rael added to TheBlaze.

What does a legal expert have to say?

Legal expert Jackie Patterson told WAGA that a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision stemming from a home defense homicide said one can be found not guilty of murder after shooting at a home invader but still be found guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon.

Image source: WAGA-TV video screenshot

Crowder's questions remain after living through the hail of bullets, as he asked WAGA, "What was I supposed to do?"