A 62-year-old Washington man was able to retrieve his gun after untying both himself and his wife during a home invasion earlier this week — a heroic act which left one of the bandits dead.

The incident unfolded Tuesday night in Lakewood after the homeowner answered a knock at his front door, The News Tribune reported. The man’s 66-year-old wife was taking a bath at the time.

The homeowner did not know the three men, but when he tried to close his door they barged into the house, armed with one gun and one knife.

The attackers pistol-whipped the man, who needed stitches in his head. The woman suffered a cut to her hand as the attackers dragged her out of the bath tub in order to tie up the couple.

When the three attackers went outside of the house momentarily, the man was able to bust loose and retrieve his gun, which he kept in a lock box.

The couple escaped just as the three thugs were re-entering the house. The one wielding the gun fired a shot through the front door. The homeowner fired two shots in response and he and his wife fled to their back bedroom.

One of those shots is believed to have struck Taijon Voorhees, The News Tribune reported in a follow-up. The bandits fled the scene, but an hour later someone called 911 to report that a man was laying outside on the ground.

It turned out that Voorhees’ two accomplices had driven around with him for an hour after the robbery attempt and then dumped his body.

Duprea Wilson, 19, was arrested and charged Thursday with 12 criminal counts, including manslaughter. He reportedly told someone that he had been involved in a robbery that “went wrong.” He was also in possession of jewelry from the couples’ home.

A known gang member, Wilson left prison last month after serving time for burglary. The third home invader is still at large.

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