DETROIT – The Detroit police chief said officers were forced to open fire on a suspect early Thursday morning on city’s east side.
Investigators said Detroit police officers found a vehicle parked with the engine running on Hull Street and East State Fair Avenue at about 1 a.m. Police said the person inside the vehicle ran away from officers and someone on a porch nearby began shooting at officers.
MORE: Detroit police chief: 2 unprovoked attacks on officers in 24-hour period
Detroit police fired back and shot the 45-year-old man multiple times, injuring him. The man was taken to the hospital and is in critical condition. Detroit Police Chief James Craig said he is recovering.
Craig said the suspect, who he called a career criminal, attacked his officers unprovoked.
"The suspect is on parole. He's considered a career criminal. He faced a second degree murder charge years ago. He was paroled at the beginning of (this year)," said Craig.
An officer injured his leg while pursuing the driver of the vehicle. The driver was not apprehended. Craig said police are searching for a witness to the shooting.
Craig said this was a "fierce gun battle" between his officers and the suspect on the porch, and a jammed gun may have saved his officers.
"The thing that saved our officers is that the suspect's gun jammed. He got five shots off and he couldn't get any more off," said the chief.
Officers were fired upon Wednesday morning in a neighborhood near 8 Mile and John R roads during a routine patrol.
READ: Detroit police release images of suspect, vehicle wanted after shots fired at officers
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