Late-night smoker in Burton fires shots at car break-in suspect

A Burton resident smoking a late night cigarette fired two shots at a man he saw rummaging through his car early Monday morning, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office report.

The man said he was standing on his porch smoking a cigarette around 1:30 a.m. when he saw a light go on inside his vehicle, according to the report.

The light allowed him to see a black male wearing a sweatshirt going through his things, the report said.

As the man grabbed a handgun, the suspect saw him and began running away, the report said.

The man chased him and fired two shots into the nearby woods, the report said. The man told deputies he wasn't sure if he hit the runner.

Deputies searched the area but did not find the suspect, the report said.

Approximately $53 worth of items were taken from the vehicle, including a video recorder, the report said.

This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 10:18 AM with the headline "Late-night smoker in Burton fires shots at car break-in suspect."