Police are investigating a South Anchorage home-invasion robbery Friday in which the homeowner fired on the suspects, and someone was hospitalized for a gunshot wound less than an hour later.
According to police spokeswoman Renee Oistad, dispatchers received a report of an attempted home invasion at 8:10 a.m. in the 1000 block of Essex Circle near Minnesota Drive and International Airport Road.
"Suspects approached the home, and when the door was opened, one of the suspects pepper-sprayed the homeowner," police wrote. In response, the homeowner fired several shots with a handgun he had on him when he answered the door.
"The suspects fled in a vehicle," police wrote. "Other than being pepper-sprayed, the victim was uninjured."
Oistad said numerous police units responded to Essex Circle as it became clear that shots had been fired.
"Whenever we get reports of a shooting, we go," Oistad said.
Just after 8:45 a.m., police were informed that a man with "a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his backside" had arrived at a local hospital.
"Police are currently investigating whether or not the man was involved in the encounter on Essex Circle," Oistad wrote.
No K-9 units were deployed in the neighborhood, based on the report that the suspects had driven away.
Oistad didn't have further details on whether police believe the Essex Circle home was specifically targeted, but she said no items were stolen during the confrontation.
"It all went down at the door, so nothing was taken," Oistad said.
Police said "conflicting witness statements" haven't yielded a consistent count of how many suspects approached the home or any solid descriptions of them or their vehicle.
Anyone with information on the case should call APD at 786-8900.