Salem, Oregon

From the Salem Statesman-Journal of November 16, 2006

Gunfire follows house blaze

Iraq veteran says he found intruder at site a day later

A two-alarm fire damaged a Salem home Tuesday night, displacing the family of a National Guard sergeant who told police that he exchanged gunshots with an intruder inside his house the morning after the blaze.

Brian Mumey, who was not home when the fire broke out, told police that he returned to his house at 225 Stark St. N after the blaze to check his damaged possessions and saw an unidentified man inside his bedroom Wednesday morning.

Mumey, 43, said the intruder, described as a white male in his 50s, fired a shot at him, prompting him to fire five to six rounds back. After another exchange of gunfire, the unidentified man reportedly fled.

Mumey called 911 to report seeing a man inside his home. His house no longer had a front door because of the fire.

"I saw a light and I thought, 'Great, my house is burnt, and now I'm getting robbed,'" he said.

Salem police did not find any evidence of a suspect inside Mumey's home or any shell casings from a second weapon, said Sgt. Kevin Halvorsen. They did find evidence of gunshots from Mumey's firearm, which he has a permit to carry.