A man who forced his way into a Union County home early Thursday was shot and killed by an occupant of the residence, according to the sheriff’s office.

Calling the case a “home invasion,” detectives say the intruder tried to escape after being shot but never made it past the front yard of the house.

The incident happened shortly before 1 a.m. at a home in the 3400 block of Lanesboro Road, off Ansonville Road. That is north of Marshville, in the northeastern part of Union County.

Capt. Ronnie Whitaker says someone inside the home called 911 and said an intruder, wearing a mask and pointing a gun, had forced his way into the residence. An occupant was able to get to a loaded gun and fire a shot at the man, Whitaker says.

The man then fled, but deputies responding to the call found the alleged intruder’s body in front of the house, which sits about 200 feet off the road in a rural area.

The identity of the man who was killed is being withheld until relatives can be notified, authorities say.

The investigation is continuing, and authorities say the case eventually will be turned over to the district attorney’s office for a decision on whether any charges will be filed.