An apparent home invasion was thwarted early today when a resident shot at two men trying to force their way into an east-central Columbia apartment.

One of the apparent intruders, described by police only as a 23-year-old man, remained in critical condition today after he was shot in the neck with a small-caliber handgun, Columbia police Capt. Brad Nelson said.

Officers were called at 12:07 a.m. to the area of Lakewood Apartments off Old 63 North to a report of several shots fired, according to a news release from the Columbia Police Department. Officers then received information about two males trying to break into an apartment at 216 Old 63 N.

Two residents of the apartment, an 18-year-old male and 19-year-old female, told police they heard a knock at the door of the apartment.

A few seconds later, the residents said someone attempted to kick the door in, the news release said. The male resident then armed himself with a handgun and fired it as the men were trying to enter the apartment, the news release said.

Officers were alerted to the gunshot victim after he showed up at the emergency room of Boone Hospital Center. The man was later taken to University Hospital, the news release said.

Nelson declined to identify the man beyond his age. He has not been arrested and his injuries prevent him from talking with police, Nelson said. Police believe he was driven to the hospital by his accomplice.

Nelson said preliminary indications suggest nothing suspicious about the shooting.

Police continue to investigate, and the shooter has cooperated fully with police.

"It certainly appears the homeowner was simply defending himself, his girlfriend and his residence," Nelson said. "There’s a whole lot to do on this case; it’s not anywhere close to being completed. We’re still trying to identify the second suspect."

Francis Powell, who lives in the same building where the shooting occurred, said she was awakened between 1 and 2 a.m. by police officers who advised her to stay inside her apartment. She pointed to apparent blood stains on the concrete outside her front door.

Powell said she does not remember a similar incident since she moved into the building in 1999. Management is quick to evict problem tenants, she said.

"There has been people moving in that cause trouble, but they get out right away," Powell said.

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