PREBLE COUNTY, Ohio -- The Preble County Sheriff said one man went to the hospital and two more men are behind bars after a home invasion led to gunfire in Preble County.

The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. Thursday in the 4700 block of Route 35 West.

Investigators were called to the home on the report of a home invasion involving three men forcing their way into the back door of a home there.

But as sheriff's deputies began an investigation there, a call for medical help up on Interstate 70 near the state line helped them catch up with the three suspects.

State Troopers from Indiana and Ohio joined Richmond police in surrounding a pickup in the westbound lanes of I-70. They then called sheriff's deputies to let them know they had located the three suspects from the home invasion, one of whom had been shot in the chest.

Deputies called in Careflight, blocked off the freeway and the 26-year-old man was loaded aboard and flown to Miami Valley Hospital for treatment. The Preble County Sheriff said he's listed in serious condition. The other two men were arrested and taken to the Preble County Jail.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant for the home and returned there, spending several hours gathering evidence and interviewing the residents. Deputies said a younger man lives there along with an elderly woman.

Sheriff Mike Simpson said the three men forced their way in a back door and began physically fighting with the younger man that lives there. He then managed to break away ffrom them long enough to grab a handgun and then fired at least two shots at the intruders. One of those shots hit one intruder in the chest. That's when all three of the men decided to bail out, deputies said one of them even jumped out a window to get away from the gunfire.

Their trip ended when they stopped on Interstate 70 to call for medical help for the man with the gunshot injury.

Sheriff Mike Simpson said that man was, "Shot by the male tenant after an altercation, he obviously felt his life was in jeopardy, he fired at least two rounds, one of those struck the suspect."

Simpson identified the 25-year-old man that lives in the home as Christopher Jones of Eaton. Deputies did not arrest him.

The woman that lives there was not hurt, Simpson said Jones needed to go to Reid Hospital in Richmond for some stitches after being cut in the head while struggling with the men that broke in.

He said his investigators will spend much of the day Friday gathering evidence and checking background about the people involved.

Deputies will then review all of their information with the Preble County Prosecutor for a decision on potential charges against the three men accused of breaking into the house or against Jones.