ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- An apartment security guard stabbed to death a burglary suspect, but the guard won't face charges because deputies believe he was acting in self-defense.

Deputies say the guard, Nathaniel Snow, was working at the Woodhill Apartments near West Colonial Drive and North Hiawassee (see map) when he approached 20-year-old Marcus Ballard.

Witnesses said the two began struggling and Snow pulled out a knife and stabbed Ballard.

"The guy got on top of the security guard and they started scuffling and fighting and next thing I know, I saw blood coming out," said Linda Jenkins, who saw the fight just before 10 o'clock Friday night.

Orange County deputies said Ballard tried to break into one of the units at the complex earlier in the day and Snow was trying to stop him from coming back. Snow said he was on the ground and being choked and was about to lose consciousness when he grabbed the knife off his belt and used it on Ballard. Ballard was stabbed five times and died at Orlando Regional Medical Center.

"He was in self-defense, in my eyes, what I seen," said Jenkins.

Ballard's mother doesn't believe it.

"Marcus is a real good boy, he's nothing like people think," Joy Ballard said.

Ballard said her son wasn't breaking into any apartments, he was visiting his girlfriend. She believes the guard attacked him.

"I don't think it was self defense," she said. "My son didn't have a weapon on him or anything, so I think they took matters into their own hand, this one officer and went too far with it."

Ballard did have a criminal record of theft and credit card fraud. It will be up to the State Attorney's Office to make a final determination on any charges.

Snow's security company, the Nova Agency, has taken him off duty with pay while it investigates. Snow and the agency had no comment, other than they stand by the sheriff's investigation.