FAIRMONT, W.Va. — An elderly man opened fire on three suspects who tried to force their way into and rob his home in Fairmont, killing one and sending another to the hospital late Monday, Fairmont Police said.

The 80-year-old man, whose name has not been released, told officers a young female approached his house in the 700 block of Gaston Avenue around midnight on Tuesday claiming that she needed to use his phone for an emergency.

Suspicious that someone would be knocking at the door, the man had concealed a pistol on his person before answering it. The man allowed the girl to come in when two men dressed in dark clothes forced their way inside the house, investigators said.

The suspects, later identified as Larry Shaver, 28, of Fairmont and John Grossklaus, 28, of Fairmont, threatened the victim with what appeared to be a handgun and demanded various items, according to Fairmont Police.

The elderly man then pulled out his own pistol and opened fire on the assailants. At least three rounds hit Shaver and Grossklaus.

Meanwhile, the female accomplice, identified as Whiteny Kabiru, 23, fled during chaos. She was apprehended a few hours later.

Police responding to the call found Shaver lying in the street with an apparent gunshot wound to the head and neck. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after medics arrived.

Grossklaus was located across the street, wounded in the lower torso. He was transported to Ruby Memorial Hospital and is listed in stable condition.

The alleged weapon Shaver and Grossklaus used to threaten the victim was determined by officers to be a realistic looking pellet gun.

At this point in the investigation, investigators say it appears the man had reason to be believe his life was in danger and that his use of force was necessary to defend himself.

The investigation is ongoing and detectives are looking into the possibility that Grossklaus and Shaver were involved in other reported crimes prior to Tuesday morning’s robbery attempt.