COAL GROVE — An 18-year-old Coal Grove man has been identified as the individual shot at the scene of an alleged breaking and entering.

Brandon Blaike Danner, 18, of 201 Dutey Drive, was shot four times in the chest this morning with a 380-caliber handgun. Danner underwent surgery at Cabell Huntington Hospital following the shooting and was in critical condition as of 12:24 p.m.

Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office and Coal Grove Police were called to the 600 block of Washington Street in Coal Grove at 6 a.m. this morning following a report that a homeowner had confronted a man in his backyard who was allegedly breaking into a storage building.

“(The homeowner) hears something and the storage building is just a few feet from his house,” Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless said. “He hears some noise and goes outside and finds the storage building doors wide open. This guy is dragging a motorcycle out of the building.”

The homeowner was armed with the small caliber gun when he went to investigate the noise in his backyard, according to Lawless

“According to the homeowner, the suspect claimed to have a knife,” Lawless said.

Prior to this incident Coal Grove Police were already investigating the report of a prowler who had allegedly been at several houses in the village.

“(The suspect) was hit in the chest and one round struck his lung,” Lawless said.

Although both men were from Coal Grove, they did not know each other, the sheriff said.

Danner will be charged with breaking and entering, a fifth-degree felony. Other charges are pending.

The homeowner’s name is not being released at this time as the investigation is in its early stages and he fears retribution, according to the sheriff.