His dog was barking, and his wife was worried.

So Gerald Sykes, leery of what appeared to be people wandering around his property in Upper Deerfield Township, N.J., about 11:30 p.m. Friday, got out of bed, loaded his shotgun, and walked toward the back of his house, according to Rich Kaser, a longtime family friend.

As Sykes took stock of his surroundings near a set of French doors, the 76-year-old was hit by three bullets through the glass, Kaser said.

After firing a shell while falling backward, Kaser said, Sykes retreated to the bedroom he shares with his wife in a panic, bleeding, calling 911, and screaming that he was going to die.