A Melrose man was justified when he shot to death an Albia man who had broken into his home looking for an ex-girlfriend, Monroe County investigators said Monday.

Authorities said they were called to the home of Randy Carr just after 5 a.m. Sunday. Carr, 30, told authorities he had exchanged gunfire with an intruder.

Officers found Ronald Frye, 33, lying by his pickup truck, which was parked next to the home. He had a bullet wound in the chest from a semiautomatic rifle.

Carr suffered a wound to the stomach from a .44-caliber Magnum revolver, authorities said.

He was flown to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, where he was in good condition. He declined comment Monday when contacted by a reporter.

Sheriff Larry Merrill said Frye had broken through a window and entered the house in search of Sara Long, who was inside with Carr. She was not injured.

Investigators said Frye fired first at Carr, who was in a bedroom. After Carr returned fire, Frye left the house and collapsed near his truck, which was still running. Merrill said Carr "was justified in using a firearm to protect himself" and that no charges will be filed.

Frye was the second person in Monroe County to be shot to death in 13 months.

A 34-year-old Blakesburg woman died July 24, 2000, when a bullet from a .22-caliber rifle struck her in the chest during an argument with her boyfriend, who was holding the weapon.

Merrill initially said Karen Clark's death "looked like an accident," but Dr. Julia Goodin, the state medical examiner, ruled it a suicide, based, she said, on information from Merrill. No charges were filed.

Copyright © 2001, The Des Moines Register.

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