Victim fights back during attempted armed robbery, shooting one suspect

An armed robbery, turned shooting took an interesting turn Wednesday when the victim pulled his own weapon on the perpetrators.

It happened around 4 p.m. on the west side of Harbor Towers, a residential building in the 200-block of East Wall Street.

Just down the street from the Benton Harbor Police Department, two men lured their victim to the side of the building in broad daylight.

“Upon arrival, through investigations, it was determined an armed robbery had gone bad,” said Detective Jason Bailey, Michigan State Police.

Police say the suspects demanded money but the victim refused.

“The victim was struck with one bullet, caliber size…we don't know; it entered his cheek and is still within him,” said Bailey.

That's when the victim turned the tables on his perpetrators.

“In the process of being robbed, the victim had withdrawn his own weapon and fired, in return striking one subject in the face area,” said Bailey.

The other suspect fled the scene, later to be found and arrested by police.

During questioning he confessed to the attempted robbery, and is being held in Berrien County Jail.

Detective Jason Bailey says it's not every day “that a victim of an armed robbery produces his own weapon and is able to fire back.”

But it wasn't the only robbery that happened Wednesday.

Around 10 p.m., another Benton Harbor resident was walking through the area.

“A black minivan pulled up as I was walking across the parking lot. And then four guys got out, masks on. Three of them had hand guns,” said ‘Cage,’ robbed Wednesday night.

He says they pushed him to the ground and went through his pockets, stealing $375 dollars.

“That was my rent money,” said Cage.

Cage says they took it, and drove off.

“Only good part about it...I didn't get shot,” said Cage.

He filed a police report Thursday afternoon.

It remains unclear whether these two incidents are related.

Police say until the suspects involved in the shooting are arraigned in court, their names will not be released.

Charges will be determined by the prosecutor. Although you could argue the victim was acting in self-defense, Detective Bailey says that too will be up to the prosecutor's office.

Police say the victim is waiting on a surgery to have the bullet from his cheek removed.

Meantime, the suspect who was shot remains at the hospital, but police say will be released soon, and is expected to be arrested thereafter.