Bryan Thomas Lopes, 39, will not be charged with shooting Paul Willard Dobson, 47, who came crashing into his room on Oct. 20.

OAK ISLAND – A Lincolnton man will not be charged for shooting an intruder in his motel room last Sunday.

On Friday, Brunswick County District Attorney Jon David announced that Bryan Thomas Lopes, 39, was found to be legally justified in shooting Paul Willard Dobson, 47, when he came crashing into Lopes' room at the Ocean Crest Motel on Oct. 20. The shooting was found to be justified under “defense of habitation” doctrine, according to a release from David’s office.

The incident happened just after midnight. Lopes told authorities he was asleep with his wife in their room when they heard a loud disturbance outside. Lopes retrieved his handgun from his bedside table and went to the door to investigate. But before he could peer through the peephole, the locked door flung open and Dobson fell through it, knocking Lopes against the wall.

As Dobson staggered in the direction of the bed, Lopes fired one shot, striking Dobson in the shoulder, according to the release. He then turned on the lights to find Dobson on the floor.

Dobson and three friends had been out to dinner and consumed “significant qualities of alcohol,” according to the release. When they returned to Ocean Crest, they engaged in horseplay outside of Lopes’ room. When Dobson leaned into the door, an unidentified friend shoved him through it, hard enough to break the lock.

“Mr. Lopes could not have known whether Mr. Dodson intended to enter the motel room or what his intentions may have been upon entry and therefore, Mr. Lopes’ use of deadly force was entirely reasonable under the circumstances,” David’s release said.

Dobson remains in the hospital in stable condition.

Reporter Hunter Ingram can be reached at 910-343-2327 or Hunter.Ingram@StarNewsOnline.com.