Montgomery County homeowner shot by home invaders

A gunfight erupted after five thugs ambushed a homeowner, his wife and two daughters in their driveway in the quiet suburb of Upper Gwynedd, Montgomery County, and forced them inside their home.

The homeowner, who was not identified but was the target of the ambush, according to authorities, was hit several times by gunfire. One of the home invaders was shot by the homeowner and killed, police said.

The incident occurred about 10:40 p.m. Wednesday.

"Preliminary investigation indicates that the resident was a specific target and that this was not a random act of violence," a statement issued by Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

According to reports, the homeowner was taken to Abington Memorial Hospital and was listed in critical condition. No further information could be obtained about his injuries.

The mother and girls, who are in elementary school, according to a neighbor, were not hurt.

Officials did not identify them either.

No further information was revealed about a possible motive for the incident.

Ferman said it was unknown whether any of the other home invaders had been injured. They fled but no one reported seeing or hearing a vehicle, Ferman said.

The neighbor said an older woman whom she presumed to be the girls' grandmother sometimes picked the girls up from school.

However, the neighbor said that she knew the family only to say hello to. She said that she hadn't heard the shooting but that in the last 30 seconds of Wednesday night's Flyers game, "My dog lit up like a Christmas tree. He got intensely upset."

When her husband took the dog outside, he heard arguing but didn't see anyone. The police arrived within minutes, she said.