73-year-old man fatally shoots two intruders in his garage during robbery attempt

SOUTH ST. LOUIS, Missouri -- Two men were shot and killed by a homeowner during a robbery attempt in South St. Louis. 

It happened Tuesday afternoon, November 1st.

Police say 18-year-old Jonathan Warren of Florissant and 20-year-old Lonnie Middlebrook of Ferguson were shot and killed after entering the homeowner's detached garage and attempting to rob him.

One of the suspects held a gun to the homeowner's head and demanded that he back up, police said. The 73-year-old then grabbed his own gun and, fearing for his safety, fired it at the suspects.

Police said the homeowner fired in an act of self-defense, killing both suspects.

The suspects' guns and the homeowner's gun were found at the scene.

According to police, the gun recovered from Warren was reported stolen on October 30th by the Florissant Police Department.

Police haven't released the homeowner's name, but a neighbor said he and his wife are well liked.

"They were very nice. You just kind of see them come and go. They would speak, when the weather was nice and they were out. They are nice people," said neighbor Kim Bryant.

The homeowner was taken by police to be fingerprinted as part of the investigation.