Man shot in leg charged in home invasion

Charges have been filed in Thursday’s early morning home invasion.

Vance T. Taylor of Idaho Falls has been charged with unlawful entry and malicious injury to property, both misdemeanors, the Bonneville Prosecutor’s Office said Friday. Taylor is also dealing with two .22 caliber gunshot wounds to the leg after he was shot in a home on the 400 block of Lincoln Drive in Idaho Falls.

Homeowner Rick Hopkins said he found Taylor, 22, in his upstairs bathroom. It was Hopkins’ 15-year-old daughter who called police.

Police said Hopkins reported being woken up just after 5 a.m. while sleeping in his basement by his Labrador dog barking upstairs. They said he retrieved his gun and went upstairs to find Taylor in the bathroom with his pants down.

When Taylor saw Hopkins, he pulled up his pants.

Hopkins said he told Taylor not to move, but he “charged” at him, and Hopkins shot him twice in the leg.

Neighbors and witnesses tell us when Taylor limped out of the house and took off down the street, blood from his gunshot wounds was splattering everywhere.

Police found the intruder about five houses down from where the invasion took place, and transported him to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.

The Hopkins did not know Taylor, and he was not visiting any family members.

IFPD continue to investigate, and the case is being reviewed by the Bonneville Prosecutor’s Office.