Investigators mum on details after teen burglary suspect fatally shot

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Clayton County police still are not releasing many details about a shooting involving a renter and a teenaged burglary suspect, but they do say the case remains "under investigation."

Investigators said the unidentified renter returned home Saturday night only to find three young men burglarizing his house.

They said the man grabbed his gun and opened fire, striking one of the burglary suspects, a teenager described by neighbors as being 14-years-old. All three ran away, but the teenager collapsed and died in a neighbor's front yard.

No one was home when Channel 2's Richard Elliot knocked on the renter's door. Neighbors said later that the renter hadn't been home since the incident.

"I spoke with him that night," said neighbor Stanley Short. "He felt remorseful. He said he's sorry, says he's just got the gun, just moved here so he got a permit. He said he's sorry he had to shoot. He thought he'd never have to shoot."

Neighbor Donnie Prather said thieves are running rampant through that neighborhood and even stole two cars out of his driveway. He said he supports what the renter did, but still feels badly for the family of the dead suspect.

"I think it's a bad situation, but I'm not surprised by this result," said Prather. "I felt at some point in time, someone would eventually catch up with the people who are burglarizing this area."

Clayton County police would not say if the three young men are suspects in other neighborhood crimes.

WSBTV