SALT LAKE CITY — A Salt Lake man shot and critically injured himself early Monday when he was attempting to investigate a break-in at his home.

The man was at his home at 872 E. 500 South around 3:20 a.m. when he thought he heard someone breaking into his home, Salt Lake City Police Sgt. Shawn Josephson said.

"He grabbed his .22 semiautomatic pistol and his flashlight and got them mixed up and pulled the trigger instead of turning on the flashlight," he said.

The man shot himself in the chest, but was able to call police who arrived to find the man in critical condition. He was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

"We don't have a lot of additional information," Josephson said. "Once he went to the hospital he was being treated so we couldn't do much as far as investigating other than making sure the home was secure."

He said there was no indication at the home that there had been an actual or attempted break-in.

— Emiley Morgan