Man shot in head in Pittsfield Township is upgraded to stable condition

By Lee Higgins Crime and courts reporter

Posted on Wed, Aug 3, 2011 : 4:55 p.m.

A man shot in the head Monday night in his Pittsfield Township apartment has been upgraded to stable condition at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, township police said Wednesday afternoon.

Detectives went to the hospital today to interview the victim as they continue to work to identify two men involved in the shooting at Evergreen Apartments that police say appears to be drug-related.

The 31-year-old man was shot after the two men forced their way into his apartment and a fight ensued about 11:22 p.m., said Gordy Schick, the township's deputy director of police services.

Schick said the victim, who was hit multiple times in the face with a handgun before the shooting, was attempting to defend himself and didn't have any weapons.

When officers responded to the victim's apartment in the 3100 block of Woodland Hills Drive, they found a substantial quantity of illegal drugs inside, Schick said, but was not more specific.

Police have no reason to believe the victim was dealing drugs at the apartment, Schick said. The victim, who suffered a single gunshot wound to the left temple, has had trouble communicating with investigators because of the severity of his injuries and has mostly used a pen and paper, Schick said.

"He is able to communicate a little bit better each day," Schick said.

Anyone with information can call police at (734) 822-4911 or the police department's tip line at (734) 822-4958.