Three armed crooks bust into residence, and homeowner drops his handgun. But victim retrieves AK-47-style weapon, starts firing, and crooks run for their lives.

A homeowner in Pensacola, Florida, won't be charged after firing an AK-47-style weapon at three accused home invaders, WKRG-TV reported.

What are the details?

The homeowner was alone his Pinestead Road residence at 11:42 p.m. Thursday when three men — one armed with a gun — pushed their way inside, the Pensacola News Journal reported.

Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said the homeowner apparently pulled his own handgun from his waistband but dropped it, the News Journal reported.

One of the intruders picked up the handgun, but the homeowner was able to run to a back room and retrieve an "AK-47-style" weapon, Simmons added, according to the paper.

"He started shooting for his own protection, to get them out of his house and to protect himself," the sheriff said, according to the News Journal.

The intruders fled the home, but investigators identified two suspects — Antonio DeWayne Dean Jr., 18, and Da'Torrance Leanders Hackworth, 20 — and issued warrants related to the home invasion for both of them, the paper said.

Dean has active warrants for other alleged offenses, including domestic violence battery, carjacking, aggravated assaults with a firearm, and robbery with a firearm, Simmons told the News Journal.

Image source: Escambia County Sheriff's Office Facebook video screenshot

What about the third suspect?

Simmons told the paper authorities received "a report of a third individual that had a wound to the head not long after [the home invasion]. The stories he's giving us as to how he got shot in the head are inconsistent at best. In short, we don't believe him." Simmons added to the News Journal that investigators are now trying to determine if this person also was involved in the home invasion.

While Simmons didn't name the third individual, the sheriff told the paper the man's injury wasn't life-threatening.

No charges against homeowner

Simmons also told the News Journal that the homeowner would "absolutely not" be charged for shooting at the home invasion suspects.

"The homeowner's protecting himself, and in Florida, in Escambia County, you can protect yourself," Simmons noted, according to the paper.

WKRG added that the incident is being investigated as a stand-your-ground case.