A home owner was shot last night during a breaking and entering, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Bobby Martin said in a news release the crime occurred around 10:52 p.m. Officers responded to a residence on Little Deep Creek Road in the Roanoke Rapids area where the victim told Deputy Corey Griffin he was shot in the leg. Deputies Joe Sealy and Travis Clark arrived on scene to assist, along with Lt. Neil Aycock. The deputies learned from the home owner he and a friend were returning from a trip they took earlier in the day. When they arrived at the victim's home, the victim noticed his lights were on and the front door was locked. This was odd, Martin said in the release, because he left no lights on and the front door was not supposed to be secure when he left. The victim told the deputies he went around to the back of the home and got near his back steps when about five males ran from the house. The victim tried to run after them but one turned and fired shots at him, striking him in his upper leg. The victim’s friend heard the shots and ran across the street to call for help. The victim said the five males ran into and along the wood line near his home and got into a vehicle, speeding off towards U.S. Highway 158. Lt. Aycock called for the bloodhounds from Tillery Correctional Center, which tracked through the woods and to the side of the road on Little Deep Creek Road. Officers believe it is there the suspects got into the car and fled the scene. The home owner was transported to Halifax Regional Medical Center by EMS where he was treated. There were no other injuries reported. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Halifax County Crimestoppers at 583-4444.