An Ocala man has been legally cleared in a self-defense shooting of an illegal immigrant who was trying to break into his Ocala home.

The homeowner, Aaron Hall, told police he was inside his apartment on Nov. 22 when his wife alerted him that their dog was barking and the back door handle was moving as if someone was attempting to force entry. Hall said he grabbed a flashlight and a firearm and went to investigate.

According to Hall, he saw a man hunched over at the back door, appearing to tamper with the lock. Hall said he yelled at the individual, who suddenly turned toward him. Hall told investigators the man appeared to have something dark in his hand that was pointed in his direction. Believing the object could be a weapon and fearing for his life, Hall fired a single shot.

After the shooting, Hall said he checked on the man, saw blood and immediately called 911. He secured his firearm and checked on his wife while waiting for first responders to arrive.

Prosecutors later determined Hall would not face criminal charges, ruling the shooting was justified under Florida’s self-defense and Stand Your Ground laws. In a court filing, Assistant State Attorney Toby Hunt wrote that the evidence showed the victim was actively attempting to enter Hall’s residence at the time he was shot.

“The State can neither rebut the presumption of Mr. Hall’s reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm, nor can it rebut the presumption that the decedent was attempting to enter the residence with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence,” Hunt wrote.

The intruder was identified as Christian Contreras Leiva, a Honduran national who was in the country illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed Leiva had no legal status in the United States and was subject to an active order of removal at the time of the incident.

Surveillance footage reviewed by police showed Leiva earlier that day appearing unsteady and possibly under the influence. Toxicology results later showed his blood-alcohol content was 0.115, above Florida’s legal driving limit, and that he tested positive for cannabis.

Leiva was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, where he died the following morning from a gunshot wound to the torso.