Home invasion leaves Coden man dead

CODEN, Ala. (WALA) - The Mobile County Sheriff's Office is investigating a home invasion that left an 89-year-old man dead, and another injured. It happened over the weekend in Coden.

Deputies got the call early Sunday morning from the victims' neighbor. It happened at a home on Old Cedar Point Road.. Officials say the crime happened sometime overnight after the victims went to bed.

"They were in bad condition when we found them. She had to go to the hospital and he was pronounced dead on the scene," Lori Myles with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office said.

Elizabeth Duggin survived, but her friend Lawrence Hutson was found dead in the living room.

"Mr. Lawrence, he was just a tough little old man. He probably tried to get them out of the house," concerned neighbor Mary Andrews said.

The violent crimes happened when two suspects with ski masks entered the home.

"We do know there was no forced entry. There was nothing broken. They got in through the back door somehow. We don't know anything right now that was taken," Myles added.

During the home invasion, Duggin suffered severe injuries.

"We're scared, really scared, we never had anything like this happen before ever," Andrews said.

Neighbors said the crime was unsuspecting to many, and it's rocked the entire community.

"It's got the neighborhood on edge," neightbor Vernon Capps said.

"They're just the greatest people. Just the nicest people, it's just a shame," Andrews added.

The community is pulling together after this tragedy and said they're out to get justice.

"We're just going to try to get together and figure out who did it," Andrews said.

If you know anything about this crime, or if you saw anything suspicious in that area, please call the Mobile County Sheriff's Office.

Officials aren't releasing details of how Mr. Hutson was killed. As for Elizabeth Duggin, she is expected to recover.