Burglar shot by Long Beach homeowner was not pregnant, coroner says

LONG BEACH, Calif. -- A female burglar who was killed by an 80-year-old homeowner in Long Beach was not pregnant, a coroner said Friday.

Tom Greer told police he came home Tuesday night and found two suspects, 28-year-old Andrea Miller and 26-year-old Gus Adams, burglarizing his house near Terrylynn Place and Country Club Drive.

"(The suspects) jump on him, as he describes, and they beat him with fists, and then throw him, body slam him, basically, on to the floor," said Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell.

Greer had a broken collarbone, cuts and bruises from the attack.

"They leave him, basically I think, believing he's not a threat. He is able to get up. At that point, he goes into another room, retrieves a gun and comes back and confronts them once again," McDonnell said.

As the suspects fled, Greer opened fire on them inside and outside the home, hitting Miller as she fled into an alley.

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to file charges against Greer. Investigators are looking into a statement that Greer told media that he shot Miller despite her pleading not to shoot because she was pregnant.

Adams, the alleged accomplice, fled unharmed but was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of residential burglary and murder. The murder charge is possible because he is accused of being involved in a felony that led to a death, McDonnell said. He is being held in lieu of $1,025,500 bail.

Under California law, homeowners can defend themselves if they are in "imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death," McDonnell said. Prosecutors will have to determine whether Greer's action went beyond self-defense.

Anyone who may have information regarding this investigation was urged to contact Long Beach police Detectives Mark McGuire and Greg Kabbe at (562) 570-7244.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.