One of these days folks are going to learn that you don’t go outside and expose yourself to potential threats when you hear a bump in the night, but that apparently isn’t going to come any time soon, as we have our second story of a citizen shooting and killing a prowler outside his home and winding up in hot water with the police just this weekend.

A homeowner who shot an alleged intruder at his home in Roseville has been brought in for questioning by police.

According to Roseville Police Chief James Berlin at approximately 9:15 p.m. Sunday, the homeowner heard a commotion coming from his detached garage and called 911. He then went outside.

“There was a confrontation outside with the alleged intruder and the homeowner fired one shot,” said Berlin.

Officers dispatched to the 26000 block of Chippendale for a reported breaking and entering of a garage arrived at approximately 9:50 p.m. located the homeowner, a 29-year old male, and an individual who had been shot outside the residence by the garage.

The alleged intruder was on the ground and unresponsive.

Roseville Fire Department transported the subject to an area hospital. He was pronounced dead at around 3 a.m. Monday.

The incident will be reviewed today with the Macomb County Prosecutors Office.

I’m frankly surprised that the homeowner went outside after calling 911. Typically, dispatchers will advise people to stay inside and away from unknown threats, especially as this was an unoccupied structure (a detached garage) without any people in danger.

There is no information suggesting that the trespasser was armed with a weapon or that he attempted to attack the homeowner, only that there was a confrontation, initiated by the homeowner who left the safety of his home to go out in the dark with a weapon against an unknown number of people in the dark.

This was a bad tactical decision, and put the homeowner in a very dubious position in the eyes of the law. He initiated contact with the suspect, when he should have stayed safe in his home.

Irresponsible people like these this give gun owners a bad name.

Get armed. Get trained. Know the laws regarding the use of deadly force.