SALISBURY — Police say a 43-year-old Salisbury man was stabbed early Tuesday morning after he confronted suspects who broke into vehicles parked at the Colony Garden apartment complex.

Police were en route just after 12:35 a.m. to a breaking and entering in progress, but say before they arrived the man was stabbed in the neck and head. Officers went onto the property, located on Statesville Boulevard, on foot and soon heard gunshots. The victim was sitting on the ground near a Chevrolet Suburban and was able to tell police he fired shots at the suspect at close range.

It’s not clear if the man struck the suspect, but police continue to investigate. A police dog searched the area for the suspect but he was not located.

The man was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

— Shavonne Walker