Man on the run from police breaks into home and is shot and killed by homeowner

Henry County, GA - Henry County Police said a homeowner shot and killed a man who broke into his home.

Police said the man, identified as 31-year-old Robert MacDonald, had committed another crime less than 40 minutes earlier. Investigators said just before the Dollar General on East Atlanta Road in Stockbridge was about to close Tuesday night, MacDonald walked in with a knife.

“He had a knife and held it at the clerk, the clerk ended up giving him the money,” said Capt. Mike Ireland with Henry County Police.

Authorities said MacDonald jumped into the back of a friend's truck and they drove off. Police said the friend had no idea what MacDonald had just done, and when officers pulled over the truck a short time later, MacDonald jumped out and took off running.

A short time later, police got a call about a home invasion just around the corner. Investigators said MacDonald had broken into a house and encountered a young man with a shotgun.

“He held the shotgun on MacDonald and was yelling and screaming 'What are you doing here? What are you doing in my house?'” said Capt. Ireland.

Investigators said the young man's father heard his son's cries for help, and grabbed his handgun.

“The father fired one or two rounds, one of the rounds struck the suspect, Mr. MacDonald in the chest and he died on the scene,” said Capt. Ireland.

Lola Hutchinson lives and works nearby. She said she talked to the woman who lives in the home. Hutchinson said she was very shaken, it was a traumatic experience.

Hutchinson said a lot of people in Stockbridge are talking about the actions of the brave family.

“We're all very glad that the people in the house are safe, very blessed. Thank goodness he didn't do anything to the people in the store either,” said Hutchinson.