A 12-year-old boy killed a man to protect his grandmother when two intruders broke into his North Carolina home, officials said.
The incident occurred shortly after 12:30 pm on Saturday, when two masked men entered the home of Linda Ellis, 73, in Goldsboro, the WRAL news station reported.
The pair demanded money and shot Ellis in the leg, prompting the 12-year-old to open fire, police said.
“[The intruder] he just shot his grandmother … He would have shot him too, he would have shot me too, he would have killed us all, “the boy’s great-uncle, Randolph Bunn, told the WTVD news station.
The shooting caused the intruders to flee, but a suspect, Khalil Herring, 19, was found at a nearby intersection suffering from a gunshot, police said.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
Meanwhile, Ellis was hospitalized with non-fatal injuries, officials said.
“Why would anyone come into her house and do that? You have to stop, ”Ellis’ great-niece, Chiquita Coley, told WRAL.
No information was released on the second suspect, but officials said the investigation was ongoing.
The charges are not expected to be brought against the 12-year-old boy, police said.