A 23-year-old Spirit Lake man was shot in the groin Saturday night when he allegedly refused a resident's orders to leave the property and instead attempted to force his way into the Spokane area home.

Christopher Lee Antonelli was transported to a downtown hospital where he was treated and released.

Spokane County Sheriff's Spokesman Dave Reagan said no charges had been filed against Antonelli as of Tuesday morning, but they're possible. An investigation continues.

Reagan said it appears Antonelli had been drinking at a nearby party and it's unknown why he was at the home in the 8300 block of North Julia.

"It does not appear he knew the residents," Reagan said. "We don't know why he wanted in the home."

Reagan said the initial investigation indicates the shot from the 64-year-old resident with a .45-caliber pistol was justified.

"The homeowner asked (Antonelli) to ID himself, then ordered him off the property, warned him that he was armed and again ordered him to leave," Reagan said. "They then struggled at the doorway."

Reagan said deputies believe the shot was meant as a warning shot as the homeowner reported to 911.

"The shot was fired at a downward angle, and we have no reason currently to disbelieve him," Reagan said. "I believe a shot fired into the air would have put a hole in the roof."

The homeowner told 911 that he didn't know if Antonelli had been hit by the shot or not. One shot was fired.

When deputies arrived, Antonelli was stumbling around on his hands and knees. He did not follow the deputies' orders until threatened with a Taser, and then was quickly handcuffed, Reagan said.

"Paramedics checked him after the deputies noticed blood on his pants and discovered an entry bullet wound on the front of his groin and an exit wound on the back of his leg," a press release states.

The homeowner, his wife and 22-year-old son were home during the incident.

The father told deputies that he had been awakened by his dogs barking and opened a window to yell at them. He said he heard a male's voice yell back and the dogs kept up their excited barking.

The homeowner said he grabbed his pistol, stepped out onto the front porch and saw Antonelli standing in his side yard.

Instead of leaving the property as the resident ordered, Antonelli allegedly began advancing on the homeowner who positioned himself to block the door to the house.

"When the suspect grabbed the screen door with one hand and pushed the resident back with his other hand, the resident fired the warning shot," the press release states.

Antonelli then stepped backward and walked off the porch. The resident closed and locked the door, then called 911.

Antonelli told deputies that he was unaware he had been shot.

"He told us he thought he was in Post Falls," Reagan said.

During the investigation, witnesses arrived who reported that Antonelli had been at a birthday party Saturday night, but had run from the "party bus" when it stopped to let another couple out. The witnesses were driving around looking for him when they saw deputies' emergency lights at the North Julia address.