Masked intruder slain by man, 81

UNIONTOWN, Pa. - An elderly Pennsylvania man shot and killed a masked man who broke into his home and demanded money, authorities said.

The 81-year-old Uniontown resident awoke about 1:30 a.m. Friday to find a man in a skull mask standing over him, police said. After a struggle, the resident fired a shot, hitting the intruder in the lower torso, he said.

Police found the body of Franklin Schrout, 40, of Morgantown, W.Va., in a neighboring yard. The resident had minor injuries but declined medical care.

Lt. Tom Kolencik said the older man was "remorseful, shook up" and it didn't appear he had intended to kill the intruder, but was protecting an elderly sister who also lives in the house.

"He told us he wished he was stronger" so he could have fought off the man instead of shooting him, Kolencik said.

The older man said he had kept the .22-caliber handgun for more than three decades sitting on his nightstand and never fired it, "and uses it today and it saved his life," Kolencik said.

Kolencik said the case "looks like self-defense" and no charges are expected, but a report will be sent to the Fayette County District Attorney's Office.