LAKELAND – A Lakeland man is in critical condition after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest after breaking down a front door, according to the Lakeland Police Department.

Gabriel Jacobs, 19, was shot about 3 a.m. Sunday morning by homeowner Michael Ives. Ives and his wife, Charlotte, heard their home doorbell at 1496 Shorewood Place ring in the wee hours of Sunday morning and called police.

The husband told police that Jacobs was ringing the doorbell continually and kicking the front door, yelling obscenities, and was asked to leave multiple times. Ives told police he warned Jacobs that he had a shotgun. After Jacobs kicked in the door, Ives, 66, told him not to come any closer, according to police. But when he continued to move forward, Ives shot him.

“We don’t know why he was at the house,” said Sgt. Gary Gross, an LPD spokesman. “His family said he has had an issue with drinking.”

Gross said Jacobs is in “severe, critical condition” and is hospitalized at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Ives will not be charged in the incident, Gross said, but an investigation is ongoing as far as Jacobs is concerned.

“The homeowner was well within his rights,” Gross said. “(Jacobs) was combative with the emergency personnel on the way to the hospital. If he lives, he will be charged at least with breaking into an occupied dwelling. We know he’s not leaving the hospital anytime soon.”

Police said that an unoccupied red Chevrolet Impala was found near the scene, which belongs to Jacobs' stepfather. The stepfather confirmed to police that Jacobs had been using it.

“It appears that the Chevy Impala hit several street signs,” Gross said. "We'll look at the car and try to match the damage up."

An accident investigation is ongoing. The incident occurred about two miles from Jacobs’ home address of 423 Cardinal Place.

Mike Ferguson can be reached at Mike.Ferguson@theledger.com or 863-401-6981. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson.