Travis Vincent Salinas, 37, of Little Rock, was taken by ambulance to Southwest Hospital for treatment of a wound to his left leg, Sheriff Phil Mask said at the scene.

      Salinas was shot by homeowner James Roberts, 29, with a .12-gauge shotgun, Mask said. He said Roberts armed himself after hearing someone breaking through the front door. Roberts fired and Salinas fell "just inside the doorway," Mask said.

      "Mr. Roberts then called 911 and we and emergency medical personnel responded to the scene," the sheriff said.

      He said Roberts "will not be charged. During our investigation, it quickly became evident that his actions were justified. Clearly, the suspect's wounds could have been much more serious, perhaps even fatal, had Mr. Roberts aimed elsewhere."

      Detectives Aaron Washington and Randy Gibbons went to the hospital to check on Roberts' condition. Later Thursday afternoon, Washington said Roberts had been admitted there as an inpatient.

      Lt. Jim Andrews, head of the county's Criminal Investigation Division, said Salinas "will be released to the Little Rock Police Department when he's dismissed from the hospital."

      He said Salinas is suspected of having beaten a Little Rock man "with a pipe during a burglary of the victim's residence. It's my understanding that the man was in a coma for about a week as a result of the beating, and was just released from the hospital today."

      "Due to the more serious nature of the crimes committed in Little Rock, their investigation will take precedence over ours," Andrews said.

      "We have, however, asked that a hold-order be placed against Salinas on behalf of Saline County," the lieutenant said.

      Andrews said Salinas "let it slip before they took him to the hospital that another man in a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck had dropped him off a short distance away, and was to have picked him up at that same location after the burglary."

      "Fortunately, their plans were spoiled this time, and we are definitely continuing to look for the driver of that truck," Andrews said.

      Roberts told the Benton Courier that it was the third time this week his house had been broken into. He said he and his wife were at work during the two previous incidents.

      He said his wife was at work and that he "just happened to be home this time. I didn't have time to call the cops before it happened," he said.

      Items stolen during the earlier burglaries, he said, include "a Play Station, clothes, shoes, cologne, about 50 CDs (compact disks), some jewelry, a duffel bag and a laundry basket."

      Patrol Sgt. Bruce Pennington and Cpl. Dwain Davidson were the first officers to arrive at the scene. Others assisting with the investigation included, Chief Deputy Bill Field, Detective Sgt. Tracy Gay, Detective Cpl. Sandy Romeo and Detective Mike Frost.