SOUTHWORTH — A 28-year-old South Kitsap man attempted to force his way into a Southworth-area private residence early in the morning on April 26, only to be dropped by a gunshot fired by the homeowner, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office deputies reported.

The wounded man, not identified because he hasn’t yet been charged, was found by sheriff’s patrol deputies lying outside the front door of the house in a huddled position. Deputies noted the man “was completely drenched with his arms and face covered in scratches. He was frantically looking around and shaking,” in a summary reported by Sheriff’s Office spokesman Scott Wilson.

Wearing black-colored clothing, deputies said the man appeared to be delusional. The homeowner and family members were at the scene when deputies arrived after 911 dispatchers had been notified at 2 a.m.

Sheriff’s detectives reported that at about 1:55 a.m., the homeowner heard “loud banging” on the windows of the two-story home’s lower-level living room and dining room. The homeowner, who armed himself with a handgun and went downstairs to investigate, said he heard yelling outside the house. There was no response to his “verbal challenges,” detectives said.

When he opened the front door, the homeowner suddenly was confronted by the suspect, who rounded the corner of the house and charged the resident, then pushed him backward.

The homeowner said he fired one shot at the suspect, but the intruder kept advancing, yelling, “Let me into your house!” Continuing his attempt to forcefully enter the house, the suspect collapsed onto the front door threshold.

The homeowner reported that he checked the suspect for injuries and tried to calm him until South Kitsap Fire and Rescue medics and sheriff’s deputies arrived.

The condition of the suspect, who was transported to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, was not believed to be life-threatening. Detectives processed the scene for evidence and continued with their investigation after he was taken to the hospital, according to their report.