Retired Chicago cop fatally shoots son after mistaking him for burglar, family says

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS/WBBM) CHICAGO - A 77-year-old retired Chicago police officer accidentally shot and killed his son early Tuesday, after mistaking him for a burglar, family members said.

Police said they found Michael Griffin, 48, dead inside his father's condo at about 12:45 a.m., according to CBS Chicago. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said he died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Griffin was living with his father, retired Chicago Police Detective James Griffin, after losing his job and apartment, the station reports.

Michael's brother Stephen says Michael was at home Monday night with their father at their father's apartment near O'Hare International Airport, but left for a short time late Monday or early Tuesday.

"My brother was staying there, and last I heard they were watching the Jay Leno Show, and my dad fell asleep," Stephen Griffin reportedly said. "And I guess he assumed my brother was at home sleeping, and when someone came in the back door, he just naturally assumed it was an intruder."

Area North detectives were investigating the shooting, but have not announced any charges, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Stephen Griffin said his father was a cop for 42 years until he retired in 1998, CBS Chicago reports.

10 Comments +

Add a Comment


by Ericwvb October 11, 2012 2:19 PM EDT: But his son MAY have been coming in to do him harm, so the NRA can say this is another time a gun was used to prevent crime!; Reply to this comment

by goodbyeamerica October 11, 2012 1:52 AM EDT

Just like old people driving they should cut off old people from owning guns. Not really being I'm pro-gun. But these people that accidentally shoot their own family members must be some of the most undisciplined firearms owners there are. And who are these family members sneaking into their families homes at night? Set some basic rules up so you losers quit killing your own family. Never understood accidental shooting under any circumstance.

Reply to this comment


by displeased2 October 11, 2012 9:49 AM EDT: Who said the family member was sneaking in? The story simply states the son entered the back door.


by FormerUSMCSergeant October 10, 2012 10:09 PM EDT: Everyone should have guns so they can kill family by mistake.; Reply to this comment


by FormerUSMCSergeant October 10, 2012 9:11 PM EDT: Trigger happy cop.
He paid the price for that, didn't he?; Reply to this comment


by rwsmith29456 October 10, 2012 8:41 PM EDT: Second post... I just realized that the case I mentioned of a father shooting and killing his son was a local case (to me) in Moncks Corner, SC so I don't know if it made national news or not. But a similar incident happened within the last few weeks. A woman called her brother about a possible burglar, he went over to her house and confronted a masked person and shot him to death. The masked man was his own son. Bizarre and tragic.; Reply to this comment

by rwsmith29456 October 10, 2012 8:29 PM EDT

Very unfortunate. The father is paying dearly for having an itchy trigger finger. Isn't this the second such case in the last two weeks??

Reply to this comment


by lifeduringwartime October 10, 2012 9:34 PM EDT: The first was not an "itchy" trigger finger. The man confronted a hooded masked intruder with a knife. Darwin Award winner happened to be a relative up to no good.


by goodbyeamerica October 11, 2012 2:01 AM EDT: Pay attention lifeduringwartime, this is a totally different case then the kid who was shot by his dad wearing all black and a mask. Try to keep up.


by rwsmith29456 October 11, 2012 5:06 PM EDT: Good Lord people. I tell my wife that all the killings run together because they happen so often now. I just read a case in Connecticut about the man shooting his son who was in a ski mask and attacked him with a knife. Our Moncks Corner case seems to have been deliberate due to a squabble between the two.