OAKTON, Va. — Officers continue to investigate a fatal shooting that occurred outside a Fairfax County home Wednesday evening.
Around 6 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting at a home in the 11400 block of Waples Mill Road in Oakton, Virginia.
At the scene, officers found Eduardo Santos, 24, of Herndon, inside the home suffering from gunshot wounds to the upper body. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Santos was pronounced dead by fire and rescue personnel.
Detectives determined the homeowner saw Santos on his property and told him to leave. Santos then assaulted the homeowner with a stick. The homeowner attempted to retreat inside the home but was tackled by Santos and injured in the fall.
Police say the homeowner was eventually able to make it into his home and grabbed a gun. Santos entered the home with a large landscaping rock and advanced toward the homeowner. Santos made it several feet into the home before he was fatally shot. The homeowner was taken to an area hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Detectives continue to investigate to determine what led Santos to the home.
Police say the homeowner's two children, wife and another adult were inside the home during this incident. No one else was injured.
Investigators do not believe Santos and the homeowner knew each other. After canvassing the area, detectives determined Santos was in the area Wednesday afternoon for several hours.
Officers received two calls for service involving Santos acting suspiciously. On one occasion, officers found him, but no crime was established. Santos refused to speak with police and walked away from the area. During the second incident, Santos was not found.
Detectives are investigating this case as a self-defense fatal shooting.
Anyone with information about Santos is asked to call detectives at 703-246-7800, option 2. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web – Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 dollars. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.
The incident shocked neighbors who described the community as peaceful and quiet.
Harry Rosen said his wife heard at least one gunshot from next door.
"It's pretty shocking," Rosen told WUSA9. "My neighbor is a really big guy, very active, athletic and we knew he had a gun. Not many people in this neighborhood have guns."
Based on dispatch audio from OpenMHZ, the homeowner was hurt because the subject hit his shoulder and head with the rock. Another call said the young man approached the homeowner while he was working on his vehicle.
"People have to protect themselves," neighbor Les Wyatt II said. "I think it's appropriate what happened. It's really traumatic. Crime is coming."
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