"I said, 'The police are going to get you. You're going to tell your story to the police,'" said McRae. "That's when he charged me and that's when I bam!"

McRae fired off one round and struck the burglar in the chest. The suspect was taken to a local hospital, where DeKalb police said he was in critical condition late Thursday.

"I hit him," said McRae. "I knew I did. I meant to."