A homeowner remains hospitalized after a shooting at his Huntington Beach home Thursday morning -- a crime that led to a neighborhood sweep for two gunmen and an investigation that uncovered illegal drugs at the victim's residence, according to police.
The 29-year-old victim is in critical condition but stable Friday morning after he was shot multiple times at about 3:30 a.m. Thursday in his home in the 8300 block of Lambert Drive (map), according to police.
The victim appeared to have been targeted by the gunmen, according to police. Huntington Beach Police Chief Rob Handy said officers "observed evidence of criminal activity" in the home, later describing the evidence as drugs and U.S. currency.
A firearm believed to have been used in the shooting also was recovered at the home, police said.
"Investigating officers observed indicators of on-going criminal activity inside the residence," Huntington Beach police said in a statement. "At this time we do not believe this is a random occurrence."
Another man inside the home was not injured, police said. The man told NBC4 two men in ski masks entered through an unlocked door as he was sleeping on a couch.
He awoke with a handgun to his head and was told, "Police, don't move," said the man, who asked not to be identified.
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"I really thought I was going to die," he said, adding that his friend confronted the intruders and saved his life.
He told NBC4 the men might have been attempting to steal the homeowner's electronics. He said no items were stolen and the men left immediately after shooting his friend.
Details regarding the attackers' descriptions were not immediately available.
The shooting victim called police and reported he had been shot by several attackers, police said.
Neighbors were shocked as police converged on their neighborhood going door-to-door trying to find the gunmen.
"I heard a bunch of racket and saw police cars and fire engines," Cathy Haffner said. "I thought I heard two or three gunshots."
