GEORGE — A homeowner ran over a burglar on Road 6 Southwest, six miles southwest of George, while trying to protect himself Monday night.

After the burglar was struck by the vehicle, both parties drew guns and opened fire on each other.

The homeowner and his cousin arrived at his home to find three burglars, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley stated. One suspect was standing by a vehicle and two others were attempting to flee the house.

“(The homeowner) became concerned for their safety and accelerated past a vehicle parked in his driveway, not stopping to confront the full-faced ski masked male standing by the driver’s side door,” he reported. “As (he) accelerated by the vehicle, the masked burglar opened the car door causing (his) vehicle to strike the door pushing it into the driver’s side quarter panel and unfortunately for the masked burglar, he was run over by (his) vehicle as it sped by.”

While the homeowner and his cousin were leaving the home, the burglars fired gunshots at them, Turley stated.

“In turn, (the cousin), armed with a personal firearm for protection, returned fire in the direction of the burglars,” he stated. “No one was hit in the exchange of bullets. Approximately six rounds were exchanged between burglars and (the homeowner’s cousin).”

The suspects were not located. Law enforcement seeks the suspect vehicle, an older grey or silver Pontiac sedan, Turley stated.

After law enforcement secured the scene they located a .22 caliber handgun reported stolen from Othello.

“Area residents of the Royal Slope and George area are encouraged to secure their property at all times, whether day or night and to keep vigilant of suspicious vehicles and persons in the area,” he advised.