A federal judge shot in the leg outside his Detroit home was trying to protect his family during a robbery attempt . Terrence Berg was taking out the trash Thursday night when two people confronted him to try to get inside his home . U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade said Berg refused and was 'heroic ' in protecting his family . Federal judge Terrence Berg ( abogve with his family ) was shot in the leg outside his Detroit home Thursday night . Berg was taking out the trash when two men tried to rob him or get into his house , at which point he blocked them to protect his family . 'True to his character , Judge Berg heroically protected his family by refusing to let the robbers inside his home , McQuade told The Detroit News . In this 2009 file photo , Berg addresses the media in Detroit . 'He took a bullet in the leg , but possibly spared his family from a worse outcome . All of his friends and former colleagues at the U.S. Attorney 's Office are rooting and praying for him for a speedy and full recovery . ' Berg , 55 , was shortly shot after 9pm , and police believe that the men were either trying to rob him or make their way into his home . Berg 's wife , Anita Sevier , says he will undergo surgery later Friday and that his injury is n't life-threatening . Nobody has been arrested in the shooting and the case has been turned over to the FBI . If Berg was targeted by the men because he is a judge they will face federal charges . The 55-year-old has been a judge for two years , and his court is in Flint . Berg served as a federal prosecutor for two decades , including briefly as head of the U.S. Attorney 's Office in Detroit . He was nominated to the position in April 2012 by President Barack Obama . 'The lucky thing for whoever did this , is that they did n't kill him . Because then , my goodness . I 'm glad he 's OK. ' Berg has three children .
Federal judge Terrence Berg was shot in the leg outside his Detroit home Thursday night . He was taking out the trash when two men tried to rob him or get into his house , at which point he blocked them to protect his family . The men shot Berg , who is married with three children , and then ran off . Police are searching for a suspect described as black male between 20 - 30 years old wearing all black, possibly carrying a handgun on his right hip.