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The police can't protect you; you have to protect yourself. Detroiters are learning that lesson with 10 self-defense killings since January.
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Detroit— Criminals prowling for victims in Detroit are instead finding armed citizens willing to open fire.
A northwest Detroit homeowner on Tuesday fatally shot two men he said were trying to break into his west-side house.
If those shootings are ruled self-defense, they will bring to 10 the number of fatal self-defense shootings in the city since Jan. 1.
Detroit has traditionally had a large percentage of the nation's justifiable homicides by citizens. In 2012, the last year for which national figures are available, there were 25 justifiable homicides in Detroit, which made up 8 percent of the 310 seen nationwide. Last year, there were 15 justifiable homicides in the city.
"It's horrific what's going on in the city, where people have to defend their homes with guns," said the Rev. Barak Holmes of Diverse Deliverance, who lives near the house where Tuesday's shootings occurred and heard four shots.
"We have to pray for our city."
Detroit Police Sgt. Michael Woody said the homeowner heard a commotion near his side window at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday on the 14800 block of Dexter. The man decided to go out the back door to see what was happening in his driveway.
When the resident spotted the two men in their 20s, a fight ensued. The homeowner reached for his handgun and opened fire, killing both.
The homeowner has a concealed pistol license, Woody said. The case is being forwarded to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office to determine if the shooting was justifiable or if charges will be filed. It was unclear if the two suspects were armed.
Woody said police responded to a break-in at the same home on Friday.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said at a press conference last week that in his 37-year career, he's never seen as many homeowners defending themselves by shooting intruders. Craig told The News in January he felt the crime rate could be lowered if more "good Americans" were armed, because he said criminals would think twice about attacking.
"It does appear more and more Detroiters are becoming empowered," Craig said. "More and more Detroiters are getting sick of the violence. I know of no other place where I've seen this number of justifiable homicides. It's interesting that these incidents go across gender lines."
Among the recent incidents:
■On March 7, a woman in her 50s shot and killed a man trying to break into her home in the 22000 block of Grove Street. She heard noises at her rear window and shot the intruder in the chest.
■At 2 a.m. Feb. 22, two men broke into a house on the city's southwest side; the homeowner shot both men. A 21-year-old man died and the other man escaped.
■Earlier on Feb. 22, at 12:30 a.m., a woman who was surprised by a gunman when she pulled her car into the garage was able to reach for her own gun and fatally shoot the man.
■A woman on Feb. 17 opened fire on three teens who kicked in her door. The alleged intruders, ages 14, 14 and 15, were caught by police and charged with home invasion.
"People who are faced with a dangerous situation are taking matters into their own hands," Craig said. "We're not advocating violence; we're advocates of not being victims. We're advocates of self-protection. We want people to be safe.
"This should be a message to those who continue to perpetuate violence on Detroiters that enough is enough. You've got to be concerned about good Detroiters who aren't going to stand for it," Craig said. "Detroiters are fed up and they are taking action."
Johnny West, a 63-year-old resident of the city's east side, is licensed to carry a .40 caliber Glock, and said he'll use it if need be.
"People have to protect themselves," West said. "These criminals have no business breaking into people's houses in the first place. Don't take what's not yours, and everything will be OK. If someone's coming in your house, you don't have time to call the cops; you'll end up laying there dead. You got to do what you got to do."
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