INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A homeowner shot a man in the thigh who authorities said was trespassing on the resident’s property early Wednesday.

Indian River County deputies responded to reports of trespassing at 10:19 a.m. Wednesday in the 5700 block of 39th Street, sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Eric Flowers said. Flowers said the homeowner shot the man once.

The man was found in the 5600 block of 38th Place. Flowers said the man was awake and talking before he was taken by ambulance to Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute in Fort Pierce with serious injuries.

Deputies are at the scene gathering evidence. At least five sheriff’s patrol cars and two crime scene vans were in the area shortly before noon.

Detectives placed down evidence markers and recovered what appeared to be a bat lying on the side of the road where the man was found. It was unclear if the homeowner was in custody.

A woman residing down the street, who declined to give her name, said she heard multiple gunshots and yelling. Another resident, who also lives down the street and declined to give his name, said the tree-lined neighborhood is usually quiet.

No further details were immediately available.

Photos by Nick Samuel