A retired police officer accidentally killed his son, after thinking he was a burglar.

Retired Chicago police detective James Griffin mistakenly shot his son Michael Griffin when he thought it was an intruder.

“My brother was staying there, and last I heard they were watching the Jay Leno show and my dad fell asleep,” Michael’s brother Stephen Griffin explained to the police.

Unfortunately, Michael went out, and returned home through the backdoor.

“I guess he assumed my brother was at home sleeping, and when someone came in the back door, he just naturally assumed it was an intruder,” Stephen then recounted. “At that time he didn’t know who he shot. Then he called me back and told me the bad news.”

James Griffin, 77 has served in the police department for 40 years until retiring in 1998.

An autopsy confirmed that Michael died from a gunshot wound to the head. James was also taken to the hospital after complaining of chest pains. No charges have been filed, but an investigation is pending.

This incident is reminiscent of a prior occurrence a few weeks ago when a Connecticut man accidentally killed his teenage son after thinking the latter was a burglar.