NATCHEZ — An Adams County homeowner fought back Thursday against a man allegedly attempting to break into his neighbor’s residence.

Adams County Sheriff’s Office investigator Maj. Jerry Brown said the homeowner reportedly noticed a slim man trying to break into his neighbor’s Lower Woodville Road residence in the early morning hours Thursday.

When the suspect allegedly pushed a window unit into the residence, the neighbor fired three shots into the air.

The gunshots caused the suspect, later identified as Joseph McGowan, 29, 2030 Lotus Drive, to flee into a bayou behind the residence.

The man firing the shots called deputies at approximately 1:42 a.m. When deputies arrived, the man’s neighbor approached deputies and told them someone had broken into her residence.

Deputies were able to locate McGowan in the bayou. Corp. Dustin Smith used infrared binoculars and saw a heat signature approximately 30 yards below the residence. McGowan was located lying down in a patch of weeds and placed into custody without incident.

McGowan, who was charged with burglary (breaking the door of a dwelling), was in jail Thursday with no bond set.

The neighbor who fired shots will not be charged, Brown said.