Victim suffers deadly heart attack during attempted car theft, police say

Man dies after attempted car theft

A southwest Atlanta family is in mourning after a tragic incident early Friday morning that claimed the life of a homeowner. The man reportedly died of a heart attack after trying to stop thieves from stealing his truck.

ATLANTA - A southwest Atlanta family is in mourning after a tragic incident early Friday morning that claimed the life of a homeowner. 

What we know:

Javon Brown, 48, was at his home on King George Lane in the King’s Forest neighborhood when he confronted thieves attempting to steal his pickup truck from his driveway, according to Atlanta police.

Police say Brown was alerted by his truck's alarm around 4:30 a.m. and went outside to investigate. Family members believe he tried to scare the thieves away but was met with gunfire. It is possible Brown returned fire.

What they're saying:

A neighbor, who asked not to be identified, described hearing the commotion. "I was asleep, probably around 4:30 or so, and I heard gunshots—maybe eight or nine. It was coming from two different directions. I just thought it was too close and laid back down."

After the thieves ran away, Brown returned inside and told his wife what had happened before suddenly experiencing a medical emergency. He suffered a heart attack and died in front of his wife, police told FOX 5 Atlanta.

What's next:

Atlanta Police continue to investigate the incident, but as of now, no arrests have been made. 

This story is developing. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video, email newstipsatlanta@fox.com.