A homeowner in Georgia shot and killed three young masked men at his home early Monday morning, according to Rockdale County Sheriff Eric Levett.

Authorities identified the three deceased individuals as juveniles Monday evening – two 16-year-olds and one 15-year-old – but have not released their names. The sheriff’s office told ABC News it waited to release information about the teens, all from Conyers, Georgia, until all three families were notified.

The homeowner, who has also not been identified by deputies, was taken to the station for questioning.

“It could be a ‘stand your ground’ type case, based on the preliminary [information] that we have learned so far,” Levett said during the briefing.

The three teens allegedly approached the home and attempted to rob three people in the front yard, the sheriff’s office said Monday night. One of the attempted robbery suspects purportedly brandished a handgun and fired shots at the residents before one returned fire. All three attempted robbery suspects were killed during the exchange, authorities said.

The victims of the attempted robbery were all uninjured. No charges have been filed against anyone in the case.

Deputies found two guns at the scene, but have yet to determine to whom the weapons belonged, Levett said.

The men were found outside the home when deputies arrived. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and the two others were transported to a local hospital where they were pronounced dead.

A neighbour told Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB that he heard gunfire around 4 a.m. Monday and ran outside to see what happened.

“It was five shots, and then it sounded like a handgun. Then I heard somebody have an assault rifle. And it was a slew of shots that came out,” neighbour Carlos Watson told the station. (ABC News)

•PHOTO: Investigators are pictured outside the scene where a homeowner shot and killed three men who were wearing masks early Monday morning on Sept. 16, 2019, in Rockdale County, Ga. (WSB-TV)

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