Columbia County man shoots armed home intruder

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Columbia County man shot a home intruder who police said had done work for him in the past.

Casola grabbed his pistol and went downstairs, where he found a man inside his living room.

He shot at the man, later identified as 25-year-old Steven Craycraft, and hid inside a bathroom.

Casola said he heard Craycraft drop something and fall to the floor.

When Casola opened the bathroom door, Craycraft got up from the floor and ran, leaving behind a trail of blood.

Casola called 911, and deputies found Craycraft in someone’s yard on another road. They recovered a knife from Casola’s house, and said it appears Craycraft was going to rob him.

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Fire rescue treated the gunshot wound on Craycraft’s leg and took him to the hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.

Deputies said an investigation revealed that Craycraft had done work for Casola at some point.

WJAX