PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – An intruder shot a Pinellas County homeowner Friday while the latter was defending his home. The shooting happened around 12:30 p.m.

Karl Ott, 66, was at his home on Williams Boulevard in Seminole when the intruder forced his way through the back door. “Ott was in his bed asleep when he heard the noise. And at that time he got up and grabbed his handgun to confront the suspect,” Kavontae Smalls with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Detectives said a struggle occurred. During the struggle, the intruder shot Ott in the arm.

At first, Ott told detectives he mistakenly shot himself with his own handgun. Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Ott was shot by the suspect.

The man who broke into Ott’s home took off. It’s unclear whether he ran away or got into a vehicle. Deputies are searching for him.

Ott suffered a non-life threatening injury and was taken to a nearby hospital.

Neighbors told News Channel 8 his home has been broken into before. Knowing this suspect is on the loose, has them worried.

Kim Suthard was across the street, watching children, when she heard gunfire.

“I was outside with the kids and I just heard a loud pop sound, which I immediately thought it sounded like a gunshot,” Suthard said. “It just freaked me out because I’m here all day long by myself and it’s just a little scary.”