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Facebook crime watcher helps Detroit police during shootout

Tamara Smith helps clean up streets with Facebook Live

DETROIT – Tamara Smith has generated a huge following on Facebook with her live broadcasts in which she has helped recover stolen cars and done many other things to clean up the streets.

But Smith found herself caught in the middle Tuesday night as officers were pinned down in a hail of gunfire.

"Somebody out here (was) shooting with an assault rifle," Smith said.

Smith was broadcasting on Facebook Live Tuesday night after picking up her daughter from work when she heard nearby gunshots.

"I knew it was a high-powered rifle," Smith said.

Smith said she and her daughter had to duck down in her SUV as the shots were being fired. Ten shots were fired toward Detroit police, three of them hitting a squad car.

Detroit police Chief James Craig said Smith and her daughter ran directly into danger.

Police said they fired back, and the gunman ran into a house full of people. Police were relying on tips to identify and locate the gunman.

While Smith was on Facebook Live, her timeline was filling up with information about the gunman. Police took her to a safer location to ask her some questions.

"They took my phone for quite some time," Smith said.

You can watch Shawn Ley's full story in the video above.

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