A 34-year-old man fatally shot by a homeowner in Montgomery County this week had been sleeping in the homeowner’s basement — apparently for some time — without the homeowner’s knowledge, officials said Tuesday.

       Wp Get the full experience.Choose your plan ArrowRight

       No charges have been filed against the homeowner, nor were there any indications that charges were imminent. Police have not identified the homeowner.

       About 9 a.m. Monday, the homeowner called the county’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) to report that a man was trying to break into his home in the 18000 block of River Road, which runs through Montgomery's relatively spread-out western area, according to police.

       “While on the phone with ECC, the homeowner fired at the individual, striking and killing him,” said Shiera Goff, a Montgomery police spokeswoman.

       Story continues below advertisement

       Responding officers arrived to find the man dead inside the home. Officials identified him Tuesday as Harry Trueman Powell of D.C.

       Advertisement

       “It appeared that Powell had been sleeping in the basement of the residence for some time without the homeowner’s permission,” police said in a statement. “The homeowner did not know Powell.”

       It was not clear exactly how the homeowner noticed Powell or where Powell was when he noticed him.

       Relatives of Powell could not be immediately reached for comment.

       Alice Crites contributed to this report.

       Letting Noah go: Md. officer’s parents channel grief to fight drunken driving

       Police: Twin sisters conspired to have their younger brother killed