Retired Officer Fires Fatal Shot During Break-In

DETROIT (WJBK) - A pair of would-be burglars pick the wrong house to rob on Detroit's West Side. Neighbors tell Fox 2 two men tried to break into a home on the 9000 block of Coyle Friday afternoon.

As it turns out, that home belongs to a retired Detroit Police officer. Neighbors say when the suspects broke into the home, the man fired his gun, killing one of the suspects. The other suspect managed to run away and is still on the loose.

Friends of the retired officer tell us he spent 27 years on the force. "We've been neighbors for a long time. He's a very friendly guy. He helps us watch our homes, it's just good to have a policeman in the neighborhood," John Lucas told Fox 2.

People who live in the area say break-ins on the block have been common in recent weeks. They say they've called Detroit Police before, but officers never came to the neighborhood to follow up on those reports.

The shooting victim is believed to be a 20-year-old man. Police have not released a description of the second suspect. It is still unclear at this time what will happen next for the retired officer who fired the fatal shot.

Click the video player to watch a full report on the investigation from Fox 2's Robin Murdoch.