'He knows right from wrong': Father of Kiwi man shot in US home invasion speaks out

The father of a New Zealander shot during a US home invasion has told Newshub he wishes he never lent his son the money to head overseas.

Troy Skinner was shot in the neck while allegedly breaking into the home of a 14-year-old girl he met online.

Last Saturday, the 25-year-old was shot in Virginia while allegedly trying to break into the home of a 14-year-old girl he'd been chatting to online.

"What he's done is completely out of his mind - he would've had to been, because he knows right from wrong, he knows good from bad, he knows consequences lead to things," his father George Skinner told Newshub.

Consequences for this crime could be living the rest of his life inside a US jail.

Police in Goochland County say Troy Skinner was armed with a knife when he tried to break into the home, and was shot in the neck by the girl's mother. His father says he had no idea he even was going to the US, and thought he was going to Australia.

"It was real irrational, 'cause the week before he rang and said, 'Dad I need this amount right now,' and I go, 'Oh!' and thought, 'What's going on here?'" George said.

Mr Skinner eventually did give his son some money - a decision he now deeply regrets.

"Goddamnit, I wish I'd never given him the money now, 'cause he would have never been able to go."

Troy Skinner remains in a Virginia Hospital, but has now been taken out of intensive care. He has been charged with breaking and entering with intent to commit rape, robbery or murder with a deadly weapon.

His father says he needs to be punished, but should be given a fair chance in the US courts.

"It's also wrong for the American authorities to say things that he was going to rape or murder or kill," Mr Skinner told Newshub.

"I don't know why he went their obviously, but at the same time neither do they - so they shouldn't say things like that."

Mr Skinner suspects son Troy suffered from a mental health incident and says he's sorry for what the family went through.

He confirmed his son had plans to study law at university in Auckland.

He now just wants his boy to be sent home to get help.

Newshub.