Man dies from ‘medical event’ after confronting armed burglars, police say

A man was found dead inside his southwest Atlanta home early Friday morning after police said he apparently suffered a medical emergency following a confrontation with car burglars who fired at least one shot at him.

Officers were called to a home on King George Lane just after 4:30 a.m. after getting reports of a person down, Atlanta police said. The victim was found just inside his front door, police said. He had no signs of physical trauma.

The man has not been publicly identified and police did not share his age.

Officials said the initial investigation indicated that he confronted multiple suspects who were trying to break into his car. At least one suspect was armed and fired at the man but did not hit him, police said.

"It appears the incident triggered a medical event with the victim which resulted in his death," police said.

Homicide investigators were called to the scene, but police said the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office will lead the investigation to determine the cause of death. The medical examiner’s decision on whether the death is considered a homicide will inform police and prosecutors about how to pursue the case.

The incident took place in a residential neighborhood just outside of I-285 and north of Campbellton Road.