ORANGE PARK – A homeowner shot a fleeing suspect who broke into his garage, ending a brief chase that started Monday when deputies spotted a man driving a stolen car on Blanding Boulevard.

William Tracy White Jr., 34, was charged with grand theft auto, grand theft, two counts of resist/obstruct/oppose law enforcement, aggravated fleeing with property damage, burglary, three counts of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and driving without a valid driver's license after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office said he rammed a patrol car and citizen’s car while trying to elude capture.

Sheriff Michelle Cook said nobody was injured in the collisions. She also said White and his passenger, Amanda Jean Strickland, 32, ran in opposite directions after White parked the stolen Volkswagen sedan.

“After being involved in the hit and run crash, they exited the vehicle, both the driver, who was the male, and the passenger, who was the female, fled on foot. The passenger, who was a female, was apprehended almost immediately, running down Blanding Boulevard,” Cook said in a press conference less than three hours after the ordeal started.

“The male suspect fled into a nearby neighborhood. Once in the neighborhood, the suspect made his way into a detached garage. The homeowner of the house intervened and actually shot the suspect who had entered his detached garage. The suspect was shot in the leg by the homeowner.”

The shooting happened on Grafton Drive. Cook said White’s injury didn’t appear to be life-threatening.

The homeowner and his wife were cooperating with the investigation, Cook said.

“This is this is Second Amendment country, you know, stand on your ground,” the sheriff said. “I don't want to go too much into it. I just met with the homeowner and his wife, who were both at home when this happened. It's not something that you want to do, but they were prepared.”

Cook said White had two outstanding warrants – one locally for grand theft, the other was an out-of-state warrant for armed robbery.