Greeley police say a man burglarizing a home died Wednesday morning after being confronted and shot by a homeowner.
The homeowner told investigators the burglar had a handgun. The shooting happened about 10:45 a.m. on the 8100 block of 21st Street Road, police say.
An officer initially responded to the area on reports from a home next to where the shooting happened of a woman who had broken in and fled when confronted.
“While the officers were on scene (two men) from the home next door to the original report approached the officer and advised that a (man) had broken entry to their house,” police said in a news release. “When they confronted (the burglar), the suspect produced a handgun and there was an exchange of gunfire.”
Greeley SWAT officers were called to the scene and investigated the second home with a tactical robot, showing the lifeless suspect in the home’s basement.
Police say their investigation into the death remains ongoing and that crime scene investigators are scouring the area.
Investigators have not definitely determined whether the two burglars are connected, police say.
“At this point, we cannot confirm that (link),” said Sgt. J.P. Tymkowych, a police spokesman. “The average person would make that connection.”
Tymkowych said the Weld County Coroner’s Office will identify the man and determine his cause of death.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
