Warren man's recent inheritance may have prompted robbery, shooting at home

Police seek 3 who robbed, shot family Sunday night in home on Toepfer Street

WARREN, Mich. – Warren police are searching for three men after they allegedly shot a family of three Sunday night inside their home.

You could call it a robbery gone wrong. At about 11 p.m. Sunday, three men wearing masks and hoodies approached a home on Toepfer Street near 8 and 1/2 Mile and Van Dyke roads. Police say the robbers knocked on the door and when the homeowner answered they forced their way inside, screaming, "Where is the money?"

"It appears this was not a random robbery," said Warren Police Commissioner Jere Green. "Our investigation shows that the husband recently acquired a large inheritance after a death in the family and had been telling people about it."

The inheritance was about $250,000.

Police say when the robbers entered the home the husband started beating one with a BB gun. That's when one of the robbers who was carrying a pistol fired several shots.

Inside the home at the time of the shooting was a 57-year-old man, who was shot in the shoulder and arm. He is expected to recover from his injuries. A 53-year-old woman -- the man's wife -- was shot in the stomach and is in serious condition on a ventilator. Their 17-year-old son was shot in the abdomen. His injuries are non-life-threatening.

There also was another 17-year-old and a 20-year-old in the house -- the son's friends. They called 911 and told the dispatcher they didn't know who robbed them.

The three robbers are described as black males anywhere from 5 feet 7 inches to 6 feet tall and 160 to 170 pounds.

Police did take someone away in a patrol car in handcuffs, but that person was only brought in for questioning.

The commissioner assigned five detectives to this case. They are executing search warrants and have people in for questioning. They are following several leads.

If you have any information you're asked to call Warren police at their 24-hour command desk: 586-574-4877.