Officials: Valley Road resident fatally shoots home invader

A Valley Road resident fatally shot a suspected home invader who broke into their house near Columbus State University early Monday morning.

Edward Jade Kirkland, who officials identified as the intruder, was pronounced dead at 9:11 a.m. Monday at Midtown Medical Center, said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan. Kirkland, 34, died from a gunshot wound to the chest that exited the right side of his back, Bryan said.

The body will be transported to Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab in Atlanta for an autopsy, Bryan said.

Authorities said they were called to 4011 Valley Road around 8:22 a.m. The two people who live in the home, which is off University Avenue near the university, told responding officers they were in their bedroom when an intruder stormed in, Columbus Police Maj. Gil Slouchick said.

“The intruder advanced toward their bedroom where the residents confronted him,” according to a release. One of the residents was armed with a handgun, police said.

The resident shot Kirkland after he “ignored warnings and continued to advance toward them.”

Police said Kirkland ran to the front door but collapsed.

No charges have been filed, but the incident remains under investigation as a home invasion.

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Officials: Valley Road resident fatally shoots home invader."