PORTAGE, Mich. — A car break-in led to a deadly stabbing in Portage early Wednesday morning, and the homeowner has since been arrested on a murder charge.
A 54-year-old Cedarcrest resident told police he heard someone breaking into a vehicle in his driveway around 3 a.m. He went outside and confronted a 51-year-old man from Kalamazoo.
According to the Portage Department of Public Safety, during the struggle, the 51-year-old produced a knife. The struggle continued, during which the homeowner reportedly stabbed the man to death.
The deceased Kalamazoo man has been identified as 51-year-old Roy Harris James Jr.
Watch: UPDATE: Homeowner arrested after car break-in leads to deadly confrontation in Portage
Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, the homeowner was arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail on a charge of Open Murder.
The case will be forwarded to the Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for review and a charging decision on Oct. 1, 2026.
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