A Marion County grand jury found a Keizer man legally justified in fatally shooting his friend last month after being attacked and later confronted in his home by the friend.

Evidence showed Alex Hackney, 26, reasonably believed Bryan O'Connor, 27, was going to attack him again and possibly kill Hackney and his girlfriend after O'Connor kicked in Hackney's back door, the Marion County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday. Hackney shot O'Connor once in the chest after O'Connor broke into the home and came after Hackney on Sept. 4.

The two men lived next door to each other on Cummings Lane North and first got into an argument around 12:50 a.m. that led to a fight in O'Connor's home after a night at local bars with friends, the district attorney's office said. During the fight, O'Connor hit Hackney several times in the head and face, caused a cut over Hackney's eye and put Hackney in a chokehold, according to prosecutors.

Hackney then retreated to his home, locked his doors and got his .380-caliber handgun, the district attorney's office said. Hackney, a concealed weapons permit holder, was at home with his girlfriend when O'Connor's partner sent a text at 1:06 a.m. saying O'Connor was on his way over.

"Hope your doors are locked," the text read, according to the district attorney's office.

O'Connor ran back home after being shot, and Hackney called 911 at 1:07 a.m. to report the shooting. O'Connor later died at Salem Hospital.

Hackney wasn't intoxicated during the altercation, and his blood alcohol content was 0 percent, the district attorney's office said. Toxicology testing found O'Connor had a blood alcohol content of 0.23 percent and had traces of cocaine and marijuana in his system. Evidence also showed O'Connor had injuries to the bottom of his foot that appeared to have been caused from kicking Hackney's wooden door.

-- Everton Bailey Jr.

ebailey@oregonian.com

503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey