Two young men are dead from gunshot wounds after one was shot during a home invasion and the other mysteriously shot in the head in a nearby vehicle Friday morning, authorities said.

Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera told The Times-Gazette at the scene on Powell Road, west of SR 73, that a man was fatally shot after he allegedly broke into a Powell Road home early Friday.

One of the two elderly occupants of the home, both of whom were armed, allegedly shot the intruder in the chest, according to Barrera.

Barrera said the intruder was also armed.

Authorities intially responded to the scene after receiving a 911 transfer call from Clinton County reporting a one-vehicle wreck on Powell Road around 6:30 a.m., Barrera said.

When emergency workers with Paint Creek Joint Fire/EMS District arrived on the scene with Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers, a young man was found dead in a vehicle with a single gunshot wound to the head, Barrera said.

A separate 911 call came from the Powell Road home around 6:45-7 a.m. reporting the invasion, according to Barrera.

Barrera said there was no evidence indicating the two men entered the home together, although he said it is believed they were together before the incident.

According to Barrera, a deputy had run the license plate from the same vehicle earlier Friday morning in Lynchburg after it appeared to be engaged in suspicious activity.

Highland County Coroner Dr. Jeff Beery, who investigated the scene, said one of the men had no identification.

Barrera said in a release that names are being withheld until notifications can be made.

Detectives with the sheriff’s office and the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation were called to the scene to investigate, according to Barrera.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

Authorities investigate a set of apparently fatal shootings on Powell Road near New Vienna Friday morning. https://www.timesgazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2017/12/web1_powell-rd-shooting-3.jpg Authorities investigate a set of apparently fatal shootings on Powell Road near New Vienna Friday morning. David Wright | The Times-Gazette