AVON – A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after being shot in the back, and three men were arrested after an Avon man allegedly fired a gun at a fleeing vehicle after a vehicle break-in shortly before midnight today, police said.

Douglas Masaitis, 27, who told police he was an Army staff sergeant, was released on $6,000 bond after being charged with felonious assault, according to Avon police spokeswoman Candice Johnson.

Samuel David, 32, of Kissimee, Fla., and Antonio Caraballo, 26, of Cleveland, were being held without bond in the Lorain County Jail on charges of theft, criminal damaging and breaking and entering.

The occupant in their vehicle, Amber Rodriguez, no age or residence available, was in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Masaitis called 911 at 11:56 p.m. Tuesday saying he was at the Timberlake Townhomes apartment complex on Chester Road and that a white Nissan Maxima was fleeing the area after three occupants tried to commit a robbery, according to a news release from police.

Masaitis said his friend, David Campbell, was following the vehicle and that two people in the car had broken into his friend’s truck.

Police said the investigation has shown that Masaitis, armed with a handgun, confronted David and Caraballo, who had allegedly broken into the vehicle. The men fled in the white Maxima and Masaitis fired a shot that entered the car and struck Rodriguez, according to police.