The man who fatally shot a man breaking into his home this week will not be charged in the death, officials said.

There will be no charges brought against the 22-year-old who shot and killed Stacey Kendell Ross Jr., 20, of Jacksonville, said Onslow County District Attorney Ernie Lee.

The 22-year-old, whose name is being withheld by The Daily News at his request over concerns for his safety, had four words about the incident: “I’d do it again.”

He said he was getting ready to head out to dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings Tuesday night when he heard a knock on his apartment door. Looking out the peephole, he said he saw someone wearing a hoodie and answered the door with his Glock 30, a .45 caliber handgun, in hand.

“Personal protection is why I have it,” he said in reference to his gun.

He said no one was there when he opened the door. When he turned his head to look down the stairs he was kicked in the face as Ross tried to force his way in.

The 22-year-old fired five shots, he said, and thinks he hit Ross with four of the bullets.

Four others are accused of being Ross’ co-conspirators: Joshua Ray Cordts, 18, of Woodbury Farm Road in Jacksonville; Sean Douglas Padgett, 18, of Mississippi Street on Camp Lejeune; Steven Lamar Lewis, 18, of Valencia Drive in Jacksonville; and Haleigh Marie Noling, 17, of Rob Lee Drive in Jacksonville.

“As soon as I shot the first guy they all ran away,” he said, adding that Ross ran, too.

It’s not like in the movies, he continued, people don’t die right away. Ross was taken to Onslow Memorial Hospital where he died from the injuries.

Inside his home that night were the 22-year-old’s mother and a friend of his, he said.

“I’m really glad my mom didn’t answer the door,” he added.

It was still light outside when the 22-year-old opened the door that night, he said, and he believes the group may have been planning to stay inside his home for a long time, that more than robbery might have been on their minds, especially with two women in the home.

According to their warrants, the group was allegedly trying to steal an unknown amount of money and a quarter ounce of weed. The 22-year-old said he couldn’t rationalize why someone would want to steal a small amount like that.

“Whatever their plans were, it wasn’t going to happen,” he said.

A press release from the Jacksonville Police Department Wednesday morning quotes Capt. Ashley Weaver as saying, “This was not a random incident. The resident and one of the subjects knew each other.”

However, the 22-year-old said he doesn't know any of the five. He’s looked at their photos, he said, and he doesn’t even recognize any of them.

The police department would not comment on the discrepancy.

"No further information released due to the ongoing investigation," said spokeswoman Beth Purcell.

The four surviving suspects were arrested Wednesday and charged with one count each of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to a press release.

At their first appearances in court Thursday, Lewis was assigned Thomasine Moore as his attorney; Noling was assigned Walter Paramore; Padgett was assigned Tim Oswalt; and Cordts said he’d hire his own attorney, according to court documents.

They’re all scheduled to be in court again on May 18, according to court documents.

As for the man they allegedly tried to rob, he said he doesn’t know what’s going to happen next.

“I’m really on my toes now,” he said.

Reporter Amanda Thames can be reached at 910-219-8467 or Amanda.Thames@JDNews.com.