Man shot and killed in Indian River County

WABASSO BEACH, Fla. - After Indian River County investigators went to investigate a burglary call at a home in a quiet beach community in Indian River County, they found a 21-year-old man shot dead.

The incident took place early Sunday morning at a house in the 9400 block of Periwinkle Drive in the Summer Place subdivision of Wabasso Beach.

The colorful street signs of Periwinkle Drive fit the colorful name, but on this Sunday morning, neighbors woke up only to see yellow crime scene tape around their neighbor's house.

"The officer told me to read between the lines," David Cox said who lives nearby. "That the coroner was coming and the residents were OK."

It was news that quickly spread in their quiet subdivision.

"Something to wake up to that's for sure," John Bruzas who also lives nearby said.

"In this neighborhood it's shocking," Diane McPherson said. "You would never expect anything like that. When I even heard the news this morning and they said Periwinkle, it just didn't even click. That's my neighborhood."

Indian River County Sheriff's investigators say after the homeowner heard thumping at his home, he found a 21 year old male, Jack Newstedt, who appeared to be breaking in. Authorities say it was shortly after that, the young man lunged at the homeowner and the homeowner pulled the trigger.

"I wouldn't choose Clay's house to break into and I know that he's incredibly fit and armed that's just not a good choice," Cox said.

But it's a choice, investigators were told, that caused the homeowner to act out of self defense.

"Put yourself in that position," Cox said. "You just shot somebody in your house so you're probably pretty upset."

"You protect what's yours and the safety of the ones you love," Bruzas said. "And when someone startles you in the middle of the night who knows how you're going to react."

Crime investigators say there is still a lot to look into but one of the main things they will be looking into is whether this is actually a case of self defense.