DETROIT (WWJ) – An alleged intruder is dead, shot by a homeowner in Southwest Detroit.

According witnesses, the 65-year old man shot the suspect after he woke up to use the bathroom and found the stranger strangling his dog. It happened early Monday morning on Whittaker at Lawndale near Woodmere Cemetery

WWJ Newsradio 950’s Ron Dewey spoke with neighbor Hilal Al-Kateb.

“That man does not believe in violence whatsoever; 65-year-old guy, he’s got four daughters in there and a wife,” said Al-Kateb. “What do you expect?”

Al-Kateb said someone had tried breaking into his neighbor’s home twice before.

“He’s got four little girls in there,” Al-Kateb said. “You never, ever know what the guy wants if he’s trying to break into your house three times in a week. I mean, how are you supposed to live that way?”

Bob Sanchez, who also lives on the street, said they’ve been dealing with a rash of break-ins. Recently, he said, he chased away a burglar himself.

 “I grabbed a rake and I confronted him; so he went into his bag and came out with a hammer,” said Sanchez. “I said, ‘Put the hammer back in your bag, or I’m gonna bust your head open with this rake.'”

Neighbors say the intruder had entered the man’s home through a window.

Detroit police are investigating.

No names have been released.