Deputies: Homeowner's son shoots intruders in Orange County home invasion

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — When two home invaders put a gun to a woman’s head, her son fought back, deputies said.

One intruder was fatally shot and a second was critically wounded Tuesday morning during a home invasion in a Pine Hills neighborhood, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.

The men, both in their early 20s, broke into a home on Perrine Drive shortly after 10:45 a.m. and pointed a gun at the homeowner's head while making demands, Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Jane Watrel said.

“One of them held a gun to her hear and made demands. I don’t know what those demands are,” said Watrel.

The woman's son ran to a bedroom to retrieve a gun and shot both intruders in self-defense, Watrel said.

Investigators said the body of one of the intruders, later identified as 24-year-old Racheed Briggs, was found lying in the front yard of the home, but the other man was able to make it to Winter Park Memorial Hospital.

It's unknown if the wounded man drove himself to the hospital or if someone took him there, Watrel said. He had to be transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center because of the severity of his injuries.

He remains in critical condition.

Deputies said it's also unknown if the victim and the suspects knew one another.

Throughout the hours-long investigation, frightened neighbors gathered around, including Victoria Escontris, who said she’s a close friend of the victims.

“I’m shocked at what’s going on because the people don’t bother nobody. So it’s just surprising that somebody would just do that to them,” she said.

The investigation is ongoing.

Cox Media Group