FLINT (WJRT) - (05/11/07)--A deadly shooting involving a pizza delivery man and a group of robbers isn't the first such incident for the pizza man.
The Genesee County prosecutor says the delivery man shot someone who tried to rob him in 2000. That person survived.
Governor Jennifer Granholm last year signed into law a new self-defense bill. "It used to be that if there was a way that you could escape from a situation...even if somebody came into your house and you could escape, you were supposed to try to do that. Now, the Supreme Court came down and said, if your life is in danger, imminent danger, you know, you could shoot and shoot to kill," said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
The latest incident happened at 10 p.m. Wednesday night at the intersection of Hammerberg Road and Stoney Brook Court on Flint's southwest side.
Police say the driver tried to get out to make a delivery when one of the robbers hit him in the back of the head with a wrench.
The delivery man recovered enough to grab his gun and fired several shots, hitting one of the robbers.
He died near a street sign just feet from the front doors of some shocked neighbors.
Police are still investigating, but here's what we've learned. The pizza delivery man claims self defense and is in protective custody.
It's unclear if he'll face charges because it's simply too early in the investigation.
As for the group of robbers, police are searching for one of them. One was arrested one soon after the attack.
One woman says she doesn't blame the delivery man and wouldn't have been sorry if the other suspects had experienced the same fate.
"I'm sure he's been robbed before. And his life was just as important," said Fran Catalano.
"He was doing a civic duty delivering a pizza to somebody. And let me tell you something: That guy ought to get a medal and he should have shot the other two."
We did speak with the man who runs the Little Caesar's where the driver has worked for at least a year.
He did not speak on camera, but said off camera that his drivers only carry about $25 or $30 at a time, and safety is a top and growing concern for their drivers.
The suspects reportedly demanded money, but the delivery man pulled a handgun and killed one of the robbers, a 24-year-old man.
The case is still under investigation.
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=5290986
The Genesee County prosecutor says the delivery man shot someone who tried to rob him in 2000. That person survived.
Governor Jennifer Granholm last year signed into law a new self-defense bill. "It used to be that if there was a way that you could escape from a situation...even if somebody came into your house and you could escape, you were supposed to try to do that. Now, the Supreme Court came down and said, if your life is in danger, imminent danger, you know, you could shoot and shoot to kill," said Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell.
The latest incident happened at 10 p.m. Wednesday night at the intersection of Hammerberg Road and Stoney Brook Court on Flint's southwest side.
Police say the driver tried to get out to make a delivery when one of the robbers hit him in the back of the head with a wrench.
The delivery man recovered enough to grab his gun and fired several shots, hitting one of the robbers.
He died near a street sign just feet from the front doors of some shocked neighbors.
Police are still investigating, but here's what we've learned. The pizza delivery man claims self defense and is in protective custody.
It's unclear if he'll face charges because it's simply too early in the investigation.
As for the group of robbers, police are searching for one of them. One was arrested one soon after the attack.
One woman says she doesn't blame the delivery man and wouldn't have been sorry if the other suspects had experienced the same fate.
"I'm sure he's been robbed before. And his life was just as important," said Fran Catalano.
"He was doing a civic duty delivering a pizza to somebody. And let me tell you something: That guy ought to get a medal and he should have shot the other two."
We did speak with the man who runs the Little Caesar's where the driver has worked for at least a year.
He did not speak on camera, but said off camera that his drivers only carry about $25 or $30 at a time, and safety is a top and growing concern for their drivers.
The suspects reportedly demanded money, but the delivery man pulled a handgun and killed one of the robbers, a 24-year-old man.
The case is still under investigation.
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=5290986
