Earl Jones, 92-year-old Kentucky farmer and World War II veteran, fatally shoots home intruder, report says

(CBS/AP) VERONA, Ky. - A home intruder was fatally shot in a Kentucky home by 92-year-old farmer and World War II veteran Earl Jones, who reportedly said he had no fear of the man and aimed "right for his heart."

Jones he heard a noise in his basement around 2 a.m. on Monday and grabbed his .22-caliber rifle. He said the intruder, 24-year-old Lloyd Maxwell, came up the stairs and kicked open the basement door to his home in northern Kentucky's Boone County.

The war veteran said he served in the military from 1941 through 1946. He sat in a chair with a clear view of the basement door, and fired when the intruder burst in.

"I aimed right for his heart," said Jones, who served in the military from 1941 through 1946. "I didn't go to war for nothing. I have the right to carry a gun. That's what I told the police."

Jones said he had no fear as he waited for the intruder.

"Was I scared? Was I mad? Hell, no," Jones said. "It was simple. That man was going to take my life. He was hunting me. I was protecting myself."

Police said two men were with Maxwell, 22-year-old Ryan Dalton and 20-year-old Donnie Inabnit. The men removed the body from Jones' home after the shooting. Authorities said they made up a story about how Maxwell was killed, but later acknowledged being present at Jones' home during a burglary.

Authorities said they determined that one of the men crawled through a doggie door to enter Jones' basement, then let the others in.

The Boone County Sheriff's Department said Dalton and Inabnit were charged with burglary and evidence tampering. The sheriff's department said the break-in was the third Jones has experienced on his farm this year. Jones has lived alone since his wife died in 2006.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the shooting. Kentucky law allows the use of physical force if someone believes it's needed to prevent criminal trespass, robbery or burglary in their house.