Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
BLACKMAN TWP., MI - A Blackman Township man fired at least four times on Friday night at what he said was an intruder armed with a knife, police said.
UPDATE: Police release info on stolen truck, continue to look for intruder
He left the house on Winifred Street with the homeowner's gun and pickup truck, and officers were searching for the vehicle, Blackman-Leoni Township public safety Deputy Director Christopher Boulter said about 11 p.m. Dec. 23.
Whether the man was hit by the gunfire was not clear. Boulter did not initially see any evidence he had been shot. Police had not received any hospital reports about a shooting victim.
The two struggled and the homeowner went by Jackson Community Ambulance to Henry Ford Allegiance Health with what Boulter said were facial injuries. He could be seen walking slowly about 10 p.m. from the house to the ambulance.
Police were initially called about 9:50 p.m. to the home just south of the residential street's dead end north of W. Argyle Street.
Investigators did not have a specific description of the man.
A neighbor, Al Irving, said the elderly homeowner lives alone since the death of his wife.
He is a hunter with several guns, said Irving, who checks on his neighbor five or six times a day.
They have discussed his safety. "He's always scared someone is going to rob him." The man has thoroughly secured the house with locks, Irving said.
Irving had fallen asleep while watching TV and did not hear any gunshots or see the intruder. He had not talked to police or his friend. Standing in his driveway, he soon left to go to the hospital at the neighbor's request.
"It had to be someone he (knew) or they never would have gotten into the house," Irving said before climbing into a car.
He was angry he was not with his friend when he encountered the intruder. "I'm usually there at this time."
Irving worried about his neighbor and asked an officer about his well-being. The officer assured him the man was OK.