Man shot by homeowner arrested for breaking into Pinellas County house: Deputies

NORTH REDINGTON BEACH, Fla. - The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has arrested a man for breaking into a home on Bath Club Boulevard in North Reddington Beach where he was subsequently shot early Wednesday morning. 

Deputies originally responded to 16400 Gulf Boulevard after receiving reports of a man, later identified as 51-year-old Robert Jackson, yelling in the area. While deputies responded, officials said a second 911 call came in from the home on Bath Club Boulevard to report the burglary. 

When deputies arrived at the home, Jackson was found in the road after being shot.

Authorities said Jackson smashed through the window of the home on Bath Club Boulevard using a large rock. Once he was inside the home, he started grabbing for the 74-year-old woman who he saw once he was inside. 

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The woman's 76-year-old husband heard her scream for help, and grabbed his gun and shot Jackson in his shoulder, according to the sheriff's office. Jackson ran from the home, and tried to break into another house that was nearby, but neighbors told FOX 13 that the owners hurricane-proof windows kept him from getting inside. 

He then ran down the street, which is when he was stopped by Pinellas County deputies responding to the area. Neighbors in the area believe the suspect may have been under the influence.

"They couldn’t calm him down, he was crazy on drugs and with the pain from his shoulder. They got him in an ambulance and took him away," said John Paul McCarthy, a neighbor across the street who heard the gunshot and ran out to see the incident unfold. "In 55 years here, I don’t know of any crime, because you’ve got to be stupid to break in here, you’re on a cul-de-sac, you can’t get away."

Jackson was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was arrested on a burglary charge with battery and an attempted residential burglary, according to PCSO. 

The suspect is expected to be taken to the Pinellas County Jail once he's released from the hospital. Deputies have not confirmed if he was on any substances, but said this seemed to be a random incident.