Colorado Springs homeowner shoots and kills suspected intruder

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Colorado Springs Police (CSPD) are investigating an alleged home invasion that left one dead Tuesday evening.

Police say a homeowner shot the suspected intruder, 28-year-old William Zink, who later died from his injuries.

Tuesday night just before 8 p.m., officers came to a home on the 700 block of Nebula Court, believing they were responding to a burglary.

When officers got there, the homeowner told them he shot the man who broke in.

CSPD said Zink ran from the house after he was shot, and officers found him bleeding in a ditch nearby. Zink was taken to the hospital for injuries but he did not survive.

The CSPD Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.

"Just trying to piece everything together, try and timeline, understanding how he got in, understanding the owner's state of mind when this occurred and where they were, were they in fear for their life and so on," said CSPD Public Information Officer Robert Tornabene.

Police said there is no indication that the two men knew each other, and they believe Zink was entering the home to commit some type of crime.

According to Tornabene, the purpose of the Homicide Unit's investigation is to make sure there truly is no connection between the homeowner and Zink, before they can figure out how to proceed.

Tornabene said CSPD cannot comment on whether the homeowner will face any criminal charges because this is still an active investigation.