Federal judge shot in leg in attempted robbery in Detroit

U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg was shot in the leg Thursday night during an apparent attempted robbery, Detroit police said late Thursday.

Police said two male suspects around age 18 to 20 apparently approached Berg around 9:10 p.m. as he was outside his home on Oak Drive.

They tried to force him into his house. He refused, a struggle ensued, and one of the suspects fired one shot, hitting Berg in the leg.

The suspects escaped in a dark-colored Dodge Charger, police said.

He was conveyed to Sinai Grace Hospital. Police said the victim is in temporary serious condition. The hospital said early Friday it was not releasing any details about Berg's condition at the family's request.

But in a posting on Facebook late Thursday, Berg's family said the judge is going to be OK.

Detroit police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) stood guard on the block of Oak Drive where the shooting took place. Several officers guarded the home.

Assistant Police Chief Steve Dolunt said the FBI will handle the case with help from Detroit Police. FBI spokesman David Porter said the Detroit FBI office is investigating the shooting in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service, and coordinating its own investigation with the Detroit Police.

On the street of stately brick tudor homes north of the University of Detroit Mercy, yellow police tape surrounded the house late Thursday.

In the street, 10 officers stood in a knot as a radio barked, "The judge wanted me to convey, you all did a good job getting him to the hospital."

A dozen police cars blocked the street, and police officers and FBI agents milled around.

Monica Moore, who lives just a few houses from Berg across the street, said early Friday "I heard screaming and yelling and I looked out. I saw (Berg's) wife running back into the house.

"I looked out again and I saw there were a fair amount of people there. I could hear the police cars coming and then there was a lot of commotion." She said she'd heard a single shot fired.

She described the family as "really, really wonderful neighbors, I've known them for 25 years."

Chief U.S. District Judge Gerald Rosen said police suspect either a robbery or a home invasion.

"The entire court family is concerned and our thoughts and prayers are with Judge Berg and his family," Rosen said. "We are praying for his safe recovery."

Gary Brown, the city's chief operations officer and a friend of Berg, said: "Sherri and I are praying for a full recovery."

Attorney Jeffrey Collins, former deputy Wayne County executive, is a running partner and longtime friend of Berg who lives nearby. He said, "I'm optimistic that he'll have a full recovery and whoever did this will be apprehended.

"This hits close to home, I'm a loyal, dedicated Detroiter but we have got to get a grasp on this crime problem. I'd like to think these incidents are isolated but more and more it's hitting closer to home. I'm praying for Terry and his family."

Berg, a Detroit native who is married with three children, was nominated to the federal bench by President Obama in 2012. Before that he worked as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Detroit for more than 20 years.

As a prosecutor, Berg handled a wide variety of federal criminal prosecutions, specializing in complex fraud cases and computer, internet and intellectual property crimes.

Berg also previously served as attorney for the Professional Misconduct Review Unit, which recommends discipline for prosecutors who have engaged in misconduct.​

Berg received a bachelor's and law degree from Georgetown University.

Matt Helms, Jim Finkelstein and Cassandra Spratling contributed to this report.