When she realized Steve Miller — her boyfriend of nearly 13 years — was being beaten in the head by their intoxicated neighbor over leaves on his Macomb Township property, she grabbed her .38-caliber revolver and ran outside.

La Rose said if Ficht would have taken a step toward her, she would have fired fearing her life was in danger.

But he didn't, La Rose said, instead retreating to his home where he was later arrested by Macomb County Sheriff's officers.

She said Miller's skull was fractured, causing an arterial bleed. He is awake and talking, but needs help walking. He is having some problems with his hearing. He hasn't started rehabilitation yet and his prognosis is unknown, but recovery is expected to take a long time and it's unknown if he will be able to work again, she said.