Gun-toting homeowner says he ordered after-midnight backyard intruder to leave, but intruder walked toward him instead. Oops.

A gun-toting Arizona homeowner told police he spotted an intruder in his Buckeye backyard after midnight Sunday and ordered him to leave — but instead, the intruder walked toward the homeowner, after which the homeowner shot the intruder.

What are the details?

Police said they received a call just before 2:30 a.m. about shots fired at a home near 237th Avenue and Mohave Street. Police said when officers arrived, a man was walking out of the home with his hands up, and officers detained him.

Police said officers searched the home and found a man in the backyard bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest.

The homeowner, who's in his 30s, told investigators he and his family were asleep when they heard the doorbell, police said.

The homeowner added to police that he grabbed a handgun and looked out the front window but didn’t see anyone.

The homeowner told cops he soon heard noise from the rear of the house, so he opened the back door and confronted an unknown man.

The homeowner added to police that the man ignored his commands to leave and walked toward the homeowner, after which the homeowner fired a single shot that hit the man in the chest.

Police said the wounded man — who's in his early 20s — was taken to a hospital and at last check was in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing, cops said.

No one has been identified so far, KNXV-TV reported, adding that it's unclear if anyone will face charges.

How are folks reacting?

Commenters reacting on the police department's Facebook post about the shooting appear to be siding with the homeowner. The following are but a few examples:

• "FAFO!" one commenter wrote. "Thankfully the homeowner had the smarts to be armed. Things could have turned out much differently."
• "2:30 in the morning, in somebody else’s backyard, you get what you get. Most people would have done the same thing this man did by protecting his family," another commenter declared. "Stand your ground."
• "Self Defense. You keep shooting until you stop the threat whether that is once or five + times. It is what is taught. Great job BPD and homeowner," another commenter said.
• "Finally a feel good story!" another commenter exclaimed.

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