An off-duty Homeland Security agent shot and critically wounded a man who tried to rob him near his home in Jacksonville, authorities said.



The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said on its website Monday that agent Donald Wells shot the man late Sunday.

The alleged would-be thief had helped the agent move a washing machine in his home on Sunday afternoon, Sheriff's Assistant Scott Dingee said. Wells paid the man, but he returned to the agent's home around 10:30 p.m., saying he had left his phone there.

According to Dingee, Wells looked for the phone, but didn't find it. He returned to the front door where the man pulled a knife and attempted to rob him.

Wells pulled his gun and shot the man. No further details were immediately available.