Man, 60, shot by burglar in Southeast Fresno home

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A man who walked into his home was confronted by a burglar with a gun. He was shot in the back, and now Fresno police are looking for the gunman.

The shooting happened around 10 p.m. in Southeast Fresno on Fourth Street near Butler Avenue. The 60-year-old victim was coming home from work when he was shot in his home. The victim was able to give police some details including what happened before doctors had to take him into emergency surgery. Investigators say the suspect manhandled the victim before he shot him and ran away.

Investigators say the 60-year-old victim had just closed up Ben's Mercado Thursday night, before he walked across the street to his home. Neighbors say Ben Othmane Saad always figured he was most in danger behind the counter of his convenience store. But, police say he came face-to-face with an armed burglar, when he thought he was safer at home.

"It looks like the suspect came in a back window and pulled off the wrought iron, broke through the window, and that's how he gained access, and it looks like from the alley. There's a high fence but it looks like he jumped it," said Lt. Joe Gomez with the Fresno Police Department.

Police believe the suspect and victim got into a short fight before the shooting. Detectives say the unidentified gunman had a big advantage over the stunned victim.

"[The] suspect is significantly younger than the victim so overpowered him and he had a gun, but it makes you think though, if you encounter somebody in your house, they could be armed. There's a strong possibility they could be armed and they will use the gun," said Gomez.

All day Friday, detectives picked through the home, dusted for fingerprints and collected clues. Officers say it's possible the suspect is familiar with the victim's routine and habits.

Guadalupe Aguilera owns the strip mall where the victim's store is. She has known him for decades.

"I'm surprised, I'm scared because I have known him for a long time. He is part of the family, for 20 years and I thinking what happened with him?" said Aguilera.

Aguilera says he was robbed twice before at his mini mart and came home one other occasion to find his house burglarized, but it's the first time he actually confronted an armed man.

"He is always worried about that happens but sometimes he have a friend sometimes coming in the night and stay with him, but I don't know this night, he's alone," said Aguilera.

Because of the victim's serious injuries, he was not able to give any in-depth account to detectives. He did describe the suspect briefly. At this point, it's unclear if the suspect got away with anything from the house. Officers are also checking surveillance video from the liquor store to see if the suspect may have been there prior to the burglary.

In the meantime, the victim is still in critical condition at Community Regional Medical Center.