Landlord-tenant issue in Dearborn Heights turns into shooting

DEARBORN HEIGHTS, Mich. (FOX 2) - A landlord-tenant dispute in Dearborn Heights became the subject of a violent confrontation when one person brought a gun to the argument, and allegedly shot a man. 

"Preliminary information indicates that we had a landlord-tenant dispute and, or discussion, that got a little bit heated," said Paul Vanderplow with Dearborn Heights Police. 

According to home security footage, a landlord was serving an eviction notice on Friday morning to a family off Arnold Street, near Ann Arbor Trail and Beech Daley.

The notice became tension-filled when a back and forth argument between several men from that house and the landlord took place. 

The landlord then allegedly went back out to his truck to get his pistol.

In a home surveillance video, viewers can hear an escalating argument, then a single shot goes off, hitting an elderly man in the leg.

In the video, someone yells to "call the police," in Arabic.

Dearborn Heights police were called out to the scene with their weapons drawn, leading to the landlord surrendering on the street. 

"I wish he would've taken a minute and maybe calmed down, kind of deescalated or just left the scene," said Vanderplow.

Vanderplow says you can always call the police to help mediate or be on standby during a dispute.

"That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to serve, and that’s what we’d like to do to avoid just these kinds of things because I would assume, you know, as a citizen, I would assume everyone involved is regretting their decisions," said Vanderplow.

The elderly man who was shot in the leg is stable and recovering. Officials say he will be okay.

Meanwhile, surveillance video will be key in the decision on charges by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office.

The landlord was arrested and is behind bars on pending charges.