A New Zealand man shot by the mother of a girl he met online in the United States is out of intensive care and has been transferred to a ward controlled by the Virginia department of corrections.
Photo: Goochland County Sheriff's Office
Troy Skinner, 25, was shot and wounded while breaking into a home in Goochland, Virginia.
Police found duct tape, a knife and pepper spray in his backpack and authorities say he is facing charges of entering a dwelling with intent to commit murder, rape, robbery or arson.
NBC reporter Allison Norlain, in Virginia, told Morning Report the charges carry a possible penalty of life in prison.
The FBI was also involved in the investigation, she said.
"With federal charges involved he is also facing some serious penalties."
He will have a bond hearing today or tomorrow, she said.
"It was really really shocking for the people in Goochland" - NBC reporter Allison Norlain
The family involved were a father, mother and daughters aged 18 and 14.
"The mother was home alone with her daughters when this all happened and she called the father who is the one who apparently said 'get the gun'."
Goochland County Sheriff Jim Agnew said the 25-year-old arrived in the United States on 20 June. He made his way to the girl's home in Goochland's Holland Hills and was shot in the neck by her mother when he tried to get in.
"She yelled to him, 'I have a gun, don't come in here, go away'. He didn't listen and at some point in this interaction he picked up the landscape stone, threw it through the glass door, completely shattered it."
Mr Agnew told RNZ this morning the family wished to remain anonymous and had shut themselves in their home.
"They were forced to take the actions they took.
"The lady who shot Skinner didn't want to."
He said Mr Skinner has declined to give a statement to authorities.
"The lady who shot Skinner didn't want to" - Jim Agnew
Mr Agnew told a media conference yesterday that Troy Skinner had met the girl through the Discord online gaming app. The teenager eventually told him she no longer wanted to communicate with him.
His arrival here and his actions were totally unexpected by anyone, Mr Agnew said.
"He was not invited here, he was not expected here."