Cops: Two Thieves Shot In Warren After String Of Burglaries

DETROIT (WWJ) A police officer was slightly injured and two would-be thieves were shot in an attempted cigarette store robbery at 6:15 a.m. Friday, Warren Mayor Jim Fouts said.

Police Commissioner Jere Green added the suspects were involved in a string of robberies that started at Ten Mile and Ryan before moving to Ten Mile and Sherwood in Centerline. And then moments later the alarm went off at the tobacco shop on Nine Mile west of Van Dyke.

A dozen squad cars responded to the scene. 

"I heard bam-bam-bam-bam," said neighbor Chuck Burack, who was getting ready for work when the mayhem started about a block away from where he lives.

Police said two suspects were shot. One suspect was hit in the chest. Another in the arm. Both are expected to survive.

Police say they will be looking at video surveillance from the area as part of their investigation.

Hovering overhead, chopper pilot Bill Szumanski said one minivan was up on the sidewalk with two people outside of it, laying on the sidewalk outside the J&W Tobacco Outlet. Cartons of cigarettes were spilled across the parking lot.

"At about 6:15 a police officer had a confrontation with a couple of individuals trying to steal tobacco products and what have you," Fouts said. "The crooks, criminals, whatever you want to call them, attempted to flee and run over the police officer. He was able to get the shot off," Fouts said.

Fouts said the officer was "slightly injured" when the alleged thief tried to run him over.