DETROIT (WWJ) - A suspect running from police Thursday evening was shot after he stopped on a porch and the homeowner open fired.
Detroit police said to FOX 2 that the incident started as a crash investigation the night of Sept. 1 when officers attempted to pull over a driver involved in a hit-and-run. The driver, identified only as a 24-year-old man, did not stop and instead led police on a a slow-speed chase.
The man eventually stopped the vehicle and tried to flee from police on foot in the area of Cherrylawn and Santa Clara.
The 24-year-old ran onto the porch of a nearby home just after 11 p.m. when the homeowner, a 42-year-old woman, shot him.
The woman's family told FOX 2 that she couldn't tell what was in the man's hand. Feeling threatened, the homeowner fired her weapon.
A neighbor living in the area also spoke with FOX 2, saying under the circumstances, it's understandable why the homeowner open fired.
"With all the things that are happening in the neighborhood, we have to make sure we protect our families and our neighbors because we don't know what's happening. Nobody can be blamed for trying to protect themselves," he said.
The 24-year-old was taken to the hospital for treatment and is said to be in temporary serious condition.
He was arrested by police for fleeing and alluding and resisting arrest and obstruction, FOX 2 reported.
The 42-year-old woman was questioned by police during their investigation and released.
"We think about all the incidents happening in Detroit - and there’s been a lot of them - but we can’t start judging people for whatever they have to do," the neighbor said.
The names of the man and woman involved in the incident have not been released by authorities.