Man shot when burglary suspects break into San Jose home

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU and wires) - A man shot and wounded by one of three burglary suspects at his home in a quiet South San Jose neighborhood late Thursday morning is expected to survive, police said.

The man notified police that he was shot outside his home in the 300 block of Greenpark Way around 11:40 a.m., police Lt. Mike King said.

The man had parked his car on the street outside his residence where was confronted by the suspects. One of them used a handgun to fire a round at him, King said.

29-year old Albert Soumountha came home at midday to find the kitchen window shattered and the house ransacked.

"I told them to get the hell out of my house. And one of them decided to fight with me. And then he ran out and I ran out there to see if I could get a license plate. That's when one of them shot me," said Soumountha.

He was struck in the shoulder. Soumountha was transported to a hospital for an injury not considered life-threatening

Soumountha was able to call 911 himself.

Police could not provide more detailed description of the suspects or vehicle.

Officers taped off the immediate area in front of the home and canvassed the area, King said.

Police are looking for surveillance footage in the area and speaking with any witnesses, according to King.

There were a few other burglaries reported in the area Thursday morning but King could not confirm if they were related.

The burglars left behind a purse filled with jewelry and a safe they had dragged into the hallway.

The victim's mother, Vanida Soumountha, stood on the street near the home holding the family's dog as she watched police investigate. The dog was inside the home at the time of the burglary.

"According to what they say, lucky the bullet; in and out," said Soumountha. "So thank God for that." 

Neighbors report a rash of break-ins in this neighborhood in recent months. But the residents says it's the violence that scares them.

"Something that they can take is ok. As long as you don't hurt. you don't get hurt, the owner don't get hurt. But now they're carrying the weapon, the gun. How are we going to prevent that?" asked Vanida Soumountha.

The Soumountha family has lived at the home for nearly 30 years. They had planned to remodel and stay for many more. Now they're not so sure.

"Right now I'm speechless. So I don't know what to do, what my next step is," she said.