Detroit, Michigan



From the Detroit Free Press of April 27, 2004:

Apparent break-in at church ends in death



A man who police said was trying to break into a church Monday morning was fatally shot by someone inside, Detroit police said.



Church leaders at the Bible Believing Baptist Church in Detroit told police that there had been at least eight break-ins since they moved to the 16000 block of 8 Mile on the city's west side eight months ago. In response, they had placed people in the store-front church to guard it.



Around 4 a.m., someone called a deacon and said, "You don't have to worry anymore about the person who is breaking into the church," Officer Derek Jones said. When officers arrived, they found Rodney Rowe, 41, of the 19000 block of Forrer partially inside the church.



He had been shot at least once in the head, said Sgt. Kenneth Gardner of the department's homicide unit.



He was pronounced dead at the scene.



Investigators are trying to determine who the shooter is, Gardner said.