Michigan Man Known To Pursue Alleged Sex Predators Is Shot Dead: Police

PONTIAC, MI — Two people were arrested Saturday in connection to the fatal shooting of a Pontiac man who often used social media to pose as an underage girl to catch sexual predators, according to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

Robert Wayne Lee, 40, was in a Pontiac restaurant near the corner of North Perry and MLK Boulevard at 10:30 p.m. Friday when he approached two unidentified men who were sitting inside the restaurant, officials said.

Lee accused one of the men of being a pedophile and punched him, officials said.

The man then pulled out a knife, while the second man pulled out a gun and shot Lee several times, officials said.

Lee was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died, officials said.

A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were arrested in connection to the shooting. Officials believe they are both from Pontiac.

Officials did not release any additional details about the suspects.

Lee used social media to pose as a 15-year-old girl online under the name "Boopac Shakur," officials said. Police said Lee's operation has led to numerous arrests and criminal charges being filed against several men.

Officials also said that Lee had also mistakenly identified someone as a sexual predator who was not.

"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 said. "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."