Fallbrook

A 70-year-old Fallbrook man was killed Tuesday when he surprised a burglar in his home, a sheriff’s spokesman said.

Robert Benjamin Stoneman of the 2200 block of Via Monserate was found dead by deputies in his home at 3 p.m., said Sgt. Manny Castillo.

Stoneman died of a gunshot in the head, the medical examiner’s office said. Castillo would not say whether Stoneman’s gun, which was found near his body, had been fired, but he was not killed by a bullet from that gun.

Investigators found signs of forced entry, but because the house had not been ransacked and no property was missing, Castillo said Stoneman probably surprised a thief who had just entered his home.

Stoneman’s sister-in-law had gone to check on Stoneman because she hadn’t seen him Tuesday. She called authorities after he didn’t answer his door.