Police: San Leandro home-invasion robbery was targeted

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (KTVU) – San Leandro police are searching for armed men who shot and wounded a man during what authorities described as a targeted-home invasion robbery early Thursday morning.

For more than 12 hours, investigators worked the scene. One resident we spoke with says he was unaware of the crime until he saw police.

"I was in my bedroom with the TV on and I didn't hear anything. Well I saw the sirens and the lights and I said something is going on," said neighbor Steve Gavello.

Police said around 12:45 a.m., a woman who lived inside the home on Lakeview Drive called 911 to report the home invasion.

Within two minutes, police were on scene and found a male resident suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. At first officers thought the victim returned fire, but it was later determined that wasn't the case.

"He did point the gun at the suspect with an intention to protect himself and his wife, but the shotgun was unloaded," said San Leandro Police Lt. Mike Sobek.

"I know he had a gun in his bedroom because he told me if somebody comes in my door I'm going to shoot first and talk later," said Gavello.

Police believe the suspects shot the victim after he pointed the unloaded shotgun at them.

The man, who is in his 60s, is expected to survive his injuries. Investigators say surveillance video retrieved from the neighborhood leads them to believe this house wasn't picked at random.

"This was a targeted house. We don't know why the house was targeted. We don't believe it was a random house; that they went right to that house," said Sobek.

Police have very little details about a suspect description. They believe there were two or three people who broke into the home.

Officers plan to release surveillance video in hopes of finding the suspects.