Homeowner Shoots Intruder in Henry County Home Break-In Attempt

An intruder was critically injured after being shot by a homeowner during an attempted break-in early Friday morning in southeast Henry County. According to Sheriff John Sproles, the incident occurred at 1:45 a.m. when the homeowner reported someone trying to break into his home.The homeowner had heard his dog barking and a voice outside, prompting him to take action. "When deputies arrived, they found a man lying on the front porch with a gunshot wound to the face," Sproles said.The intruder had broken two front windows and was reaching inside the home, attempting to pull the blinds down when the homeowner fired one shot from a 45-caliber handgun. The intruder was airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis, where he underwent surgery. He was listed in critical but stable condition.Authorities have not released the intruder's identity, but confirmed he's had 135 prior interactions with law enforcement in Henry County, most of which were related to mental health issues."This incident highlights the dire crisis we are facing with inadequate resources to house people with mental illness," Sproles said. "It's a critical issue that needs to be addressed."Sproles noted that his deputies had just completed an all-week Crisis Intervention Training with approximately 20 law-enforcement officers from their county, including the New Castle police department, members of the State Police, and the Middletown and Knightstown police departments.The investigation is ongoing.