Riverside County sheriff's deputies said the homeowner was visiting a neighbor when he heard screaming and gunfire coming from his home in the 1300 block of Heron Way near Esplanade Avenue.
The homeowner said he ran to his house to find an unknown man armed with a shotgun inside.
Deputies said the homeowner grabbed a gun and confronted the intruder. That's when they both started shooting at each other, according to investigators.
The homeowner was not injured, but he did shoot the armed intruder, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies were called to the scene shortly before 10:30 p.m.
The homeowner has not been arrested. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and the case will ultimately be submitted to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office for review.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office encourages anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the Central Homicide Unit Investigator Cook at (951) 955-2777 or San Jacinto Sheriff's Station Investigator Ghiliotty at (951) 654-2702.