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Rochester Hills man who shot at teen asking for directions sentenced to 4-10 years in prison

Posted at 9:32 AM, Nov 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-11-13 17:13:14-05

Jeffrey Zeigler was sentenced to 4 to 10 years in prison for shooting at a teen who knocked on his door to ask for directions.

He was sentenced to two to 10 years for one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm and two years for one count of felony firearm.

The judge said the sentences are consecutive, meaning he will serve at least two years in prison for the first count and, after that sentence is complete, he will serve two years in prison for the second count, pending time off for good behavior.

Zeigler, a retired Detroit firefighter, shot at 14-year-old Brennan Walker after he showed up on the Zeiglers' porch in Rochester Hills looking for directions to school because he was lost.

Zeigler's wife made a frantic call to 911 claiming she thought he was trying to break in, and her husband was seen on surveillance video chasing the teen and firing a shot. 

During the trial, Zeigler said he was trying to fire a warning shot. Walker was not struck, but prosecutors argued that Zeigler intended to kill.

"I'd like to apologize to the family for my actions on that morning," Zeigler said during the sentencing.