Michigan online pedophile hunter Robert Wayne Lee, 40, known as "Boopac Shakur," was shot and killed during a confrontation with two young men at a Pontiac restaurant Friday night.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the Oakland County Sheriff's Office said Lee approached the men at the restaurant near the corner of North Perry and MLK Boulevard around 10:30 p.m. Friday, accusing one of the men of being a pedophile and then punching him.
The man pulled a knife during the altercation, and the other drew a pistol, shooting Lee several times before fleeing the scene, the report said.
Lee died later at a hospital.
Police arrested two Pontiac men, ages 17 and 18, Saturday in connection with the killing and detectives are expected to quickly turn the case over to prosecutors for potential charges.
The Oakland Press reported that police used tracking dogs to find the suspects and local police worked with U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives agents, which comprise the Pontiac Gun Violence Task Force.
According to the report, Lee was a self-proclaimed "vigilante doing police work without a badge." He posed as a minor online to arrange meetings with adults that contacted him, then recorded and posted the confrontations that occurred during those meetings.
Lee's "Boopac Shakur" Facebook page has more than 11,000 followers, and even though he is credited with several arrests of suspected child predators, he also reportedly mistakenly identified a person who was later cleared of the allegation, the report said.
"While we certainly understand his desire to hold child predators accountable, many times well intentioned individuals who engaged in this don't know the standard of evidence required for convictions and often underestimate the potential for violence confronting a suspected predator," Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard told the Detroit Free Press. "They feel trapped and often lash out violently. When we have arrested predators in such circumstances, they have rammed police cars and exhibited other violent behavior in attempts to escape."
Pontiac Universal Crime's CEO Rahim Harris issued a statement to the Oakland Press giving their condolences to Lee's family and friends.
"Although there are many questions, thoughts, and emotions, we know that God can and will bring comfort and peace during a time of tragedy, as only he can do," they said in the statement. "We would like to send our sincere prayers and condolences to the family and friends of our dear brother: Robert "Boopac Shakur" Lee who lost his life due to another senseless act of violence here in the Pontiac community. We ask that this community take a moment to not invest time into discussing details and sensitive information, but for the respect of the family, whisper a prayer during this difficult time."
Charles Kim ✉
Charles Kim, a Newsmax general assignment writer, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years in reporting on news and politics.
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