An off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot a would-be truck thief inside the officer's Otay Mesa home today, a San Diego police lieutenant said.

The agent was asleep around 2:30 a.m. in the bedroom of his home in the 3900 block of Palm Avenue, when the robber came inside, raised a hammer and a sharp object and demanded keys to a truck, according to Lt. Kevin Rooney.

The ICE agent directed the man into the kitchen to get the keys, and then grabbed a gun, Rooney said.


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The lieutenant said the agent identified himself as a peace officer and fired when the suspect raised the hammer again. The wound does not appear to be life-threatening, he said.

The suspect ran off after being shot and was found by officers in the 3800 block of Chanute Street, Rooney said.