Long Beach man shoots burglar who said she was pregnant

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- A Long Beach man allegedly fatally shot a fleeing, unarmed burglar Tuesday night despite her telling him she was pregnant. An investigation is now underway by Long Beach police into whether the shooting was justified or a criminal act.

"All of a sudden, I heard these high-pitched gun shots and I hear some screaming after that," neighbor Kevin Franklin said.

The screams came from 28-year-old Andrea Miller, a reported intruder who would die before the night was over, shot by one fed-up homeowner.

Thomas Greer is the 80-year-old resident who tells police he shot her. He said he came home around 8:55 p.m. to find Miller and an accomplice, 26-year-old Gus Adams, burglarizing his house near Terrylynn Place and Country Club Drive.

There was a violent face-off, according to Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell.

"They jump on him, as he describes, and they beat him with fists, and then throw him, body slam him, basically, on to the floor," McDonnell said.

The female continued to strike him, while the male suspect walked over to Greer's safe, attempting to break into it.

"He sustains a broken collar bone, cuts and bruises as a result of that beating," McDonnell said. "They leave him, basically I think, believing he's not a threat, he is able to get up. At that point, he goes into another room, retrieves a gun and comes back and confronts them once again."

Greer tells police he shot at them inside and outside the house but only struck Miller as she fled through the garage and into an alley. She died at the scene; the male suspect fled. He was later arrested.

Investigators are looking into a statement that Greer told the media, that the woman pleaded not to shoot her because she was pregnant. Miller was not visibly pregnant, but the L.A. County Coroner's Office will determine whether or not she was pregnant.

The Long Beach Police Department says they have reports of two previous break-ins at Greer's home on Country Club Drive. And Greer says there was a third incident that he did not report.

Neighbors say they saw Greer's growing frustration.

"He is a nice old man. I remember the first break-in, they literally tore down the front door," neighbor George Romero said.

The alleged accomplice, Gus Adams, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of residential burglary and murder. The murder charge is possible because he is accused of being involved in a felony that led to a death, McDonnell said. He is being held in lieu of $1,025,500 bail.

Both suspects allegedly had criminal histories.

Under California law, homeowners can defend themselves if they are in "imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death," McDonnell said. Prosecutors will have to determine whether Greer's action went beyond self-defense, and whether or not charges will be filed.

Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation was urged to contact Long Beach police Detectives Mark McGuire and Greg Kabbe at (562) 570-7244.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.