NEW HANOVER COUNTY -- A New Hanover County [1] man who tried to help his neighbors after they were attacked by a masked man almost got into trouble with the law himself.

According to the 911 call, the man heard his neighbors being attacked, ran outside with a rifle and fired a shot at the suspect.

As deputies arrived on scene, the 911 dispatcher wanted to make sure officers didn't confuse the neighbor for the robber.

The 911 operator said, "Tell your husband he needs to secure the weapon, meaning, he needs to put it on the kitchen table and he needs to stand at the front door with you with his hands up in the air so when the officers get there so they know he is not a threat."

Investigators don't think the neighbor shot the suspect.

The suspect is described as a black male between 20 and 30 years old, about five-foot-ten to six feet tall, wearing a brown shirt and camouflaged pants.

Investigators say around 10:15 Monday night a masked man broke into a house on Seaview Road off Myrtle Grove Road and attacked the two women who live there with a stun gun.

One of the women regained her composure and was able to run to a neighbor for help.

If you have any information on this case please call the New Hanover County [2] Sheriff's Office at 798-4260.

Detectives say in cases like this it's really not a good idea to shoot at the suspect, for one because you don't know what kind of weapon they may have, also, if you do end up shooting the person and the suspect was not personally attacking you or threatening you, it's possible that you could be criminally charged.