Who:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
-Investigative Operations Bureau
-Robbery/Homicide

Karl Edward Ott (Victim-Injured)
DOB: 2/10/1950
5724 Williams Boulevard, Seminole

Male suspect description unknown.

What:
Pinellas detectives are investigating a shooting that injured a man in unincorporated Seminole.

When:
Deputies responded at about 12:22 p.m. on December 2, 2016.

Where:
The incident occurred at a residence located at 5724 Williams Boulevard, in unincorporated Seminole.

Why/How:
According to detectives, 66-year-old Karl Ott was inside his home alone sleeping at about 12:22 p.m. on December 2, 2016, when he heard what sounded like someone breaking in the backdoor of his residence.

Ott got up out of bed and armed himself with a handgun that he kept in his home. Ott confronted a male suspect inside his residence and followed the suspect outside when he was shot in the left forearm.

The unidentified suspect left the home before deputies arrived. It was unclear whether the suspect left on foot or by vehicle.

When deputies arrived on scene, Ott mistakenly told deputies that he accidentally shot himself with his own handgun while confronting the suspect at his home. Through the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Ott was shot by the suspect.  

Ott was transported to Bayfront Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

Detectives say there was evidence of forced entry to the rear door of the residence.

The male suspect description is unknown at this time.

Anyone with information that may assist detectives in this investigation is asked to please contact Detective Tobeck of the Robbery/Homicide Unit at (727) 582-6200, or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS or www.crimestoppersofpinellas.org

The investigation continues.