A man wanted in connection with a home invasion of an elderly Homosassa man on Feb. 16 has been returned to Citrus County from Pasco County.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said today that on Friday, Feb. 16, just before midnight, Citrus County deputies responded to a home on West Berrigan Court in Homosassa involving a home invasion involving a shooting.
When deputies arrived on scene, the homeowner, Carmelo Marchese, 71 from Homosassa, told them the suspect, whom he did not know, Josh Bernard, 36 of Homosassa, was trying to break into his home.
Marchese told deputies his dog started barking at something outside. The homeowner said at that time he grabbed his gun and went to the front door. Bernard was outside the front door and forced his way through the threshold of the home. Marchese said he warned the suspect not to come inside his home, but Bernard entered anyway. Marchese said Bernard went for the gun he was holding, and said that’s when he was forced to shoot Bernard.
Deputies found Bernard in the living room with a gunshot wound to the chest. Nature Coast EMS transported Bernard to a hospital in Pasco County, where he was medically treated, released and arrested. Bernard confessed to all charges when he was interviewed by detectives.
Bernard was extradited back to Citrus County on Thursday, and was booked in the Citrus County detention facility. He is charged for Burglary with Battery, and Battery on a person over 65 with no bond.
Bernard has a history of burglary, the Sheriff’s Office said, and was just released from jail in January for similar charges.