Sheriff says resident who killed 'stalker' shot in self-defense

JOURNAL STAFF WRITERS

by Kim Crawford and Linda Angelo

COMMUNITY STAFF WRITERS

ATLAS TWP. - An Atlas Township homeowner who shot and killed his girlfriend's ex-husband as the man invaded his home late last month acted in self-defense, Genesee County Sheriff Robert Pickell said.

But it ultimately will be up to the county prosecutor's office to make a decision on the case.

"This guy went wild," Pickell said about Ftoyan Novakov, 51, of Sterling Heights, who was shot after he fired at least two bullets into the man's house, broke in and stalked up the stairs toward the man and Novakov's ex-wife.

"Our investigation shows the homeowner was defending himself."

Undersheriff James Gage and Lt. Kevin Shanlian said the incident began about 10:25 p.m. Dec. 23 when the homeowner, a 41-year-old man, called 911 from his house on S. Irish Road near Baldwin Road and reported shots were being fired into the house.

He and his girlfriend, Novakov's 42-year-old ex-wife from Macomb Township, retreated to an upstairs bedroom as Novakov threw a whiskey bottle through a window and climbed into the house.

Investigators found that Novakov was armed with a 9mm handgun with a laser sight.

Gage said a 911 operator could hear the sound of gunshots as the homeowner reported what was happening. The homeowner also said that he was a hunter, and that he had a rifle and needed to defend himself and his girlfriend.

She and the homeowner were in the bedroom trying to hide and protect themselves when Novakov came in, Gage said.

The homeowner fired his rifle, killing Novakov.

The deadly shooting unfolded inside a two-story home on a heavily wooded, dead-end street.

Neighbors told officers they heard four shots during the incident and investigators say at least two of Novakov's shots hit the house. One neighbor, who declined to be named, said he was watching television when he heard a series of gunshots outside a window.

"They faded out quickly and I'm not sure what was going on," he said. "Then we heard some more gunshots and the next thing I know there were cops lining up in the street.

"Nothing like this has ever happened in our sleepy little end of town."

Another neighbor, who also declined to be named, said he heard a gunshot, but didn't think anything of it because of a gun range nearby.

Neighbors described the homeowner as quiet and having lived in the neighborhood for a couple of years.

Shanlian said Novakov and his ex-wife are natives of Bulgaria. Investigators believe Novakov had stalked her and her boyfriend earlier in the day Saturday.

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