CLEVELAND -- An attempted burglary turned fatal on the city's west side Friday morning, according to NewsChannel5.

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Burglar Killed

Police said that Officer James Toomey and his wife were awaken by banging noises outside their home.

Toomey found a man in his back yard lying on the ground holding a pipe. Officials said that Toomey identified himself as a police officer. He then reportedly yelled to his wife to call 911, and then the man got up and started hitting the officer with the pipe.

WEWS said that's when Toomey opened fire.

The suspect, whose name hasn't been released, died of 12 gunshot wounds, the coroner said.

WEWS said Toomey's home wasn't the only home that the suspected burglar targeted. Officials said the suspect forced a screen door open at another home.

"With our air conditioner going, (he) probably could have got in without us realizing it," said Wayne Hughes, a homeowner.

Jean MacDonald's son, Steve, heard a noise and went to the window.

"I was looking out and couldn't see anything," he said. "So the flood lights on the garage were on, so I turned them off and then on again to let anybody out (there) know that there was somebody awake and alert."

Hughes is happy to have a police officer as a neighbor.

"I'm just grateful he's not on the street anymore," said Hughes.

Officials said that there was evidence of an attempted burglary.

"No neighborhood stays the same, but it's a shame," MacDonald said. "You work hard for what you've got and then some hop-head or whatever tries to take it away from you."

Toomey is on administrative leave while the incident is being investigated.