Intruder attacks resident with hammer, fractures his skull

A man was seriously injured Monday when he was attacked by an intruder inside his home, police said.

The 55-year-old man returned to his house in the 600 block of South Fern at about 10 a.m. Monday when he came across a stranger in his basement, according to a police document. The intruder attacked the resident with a claw hammer.

The resident suffered a fractured skull and a fractured left hand, according to the police document. The intruder took the keys to a black truck belonging to the victim’s sister, Lt. James Espinoza said. He then left in the vehicle.

The victim was taken to Via Christi Hospital St. Francis. He was only able to give a limited description of his assailant, Espinoza said.

This story was originally published February 3, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Intruder attacks resident with hammer, fractures his skull."