Detroit police chief says man ‘swinging knives wildly’ in an intersection was shot, killed by an officer

Shooting happened Thursday evening

DETROIT – Thursday evening marks the fourth officer-involved shooting for Detroit police this month.

Detroit police chief James Craig said officers were on their way to a call when they saw a sword-wielding man in the middle of the intersection of Meyers Road and Grand River Avenue wildly swinging his weapon.

Craig said officers saw a man wildly swinging a sword and then pulled out an 8-inch dagger. He said the man was standing in the middle of an intersection and “was a threat” to officers.

When police ordered the man to drop the sword, they said he charged at them. They used a Tazer on him, but said it didn’t take effect because of the protective clothing he had on.

Police said he threw a weapon at one of the officers, hitting him just below the eye.

One shot was fired by police. The suspect was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said the suspect had three knives, one of which was a sword. One Detroit police officer has also been transported to a hospital.

“We have individuals in our neighborhoods who are violent,” Craig said. “It could be any number of reasons.”

Craig said this particular suspect was, “swinging knives wildly in the middle of an intersection.”

Police said the suspect had two daggers and a sword. (WDIV)
Police said the suspect had two daggers and a sword. (WDIV)

Watch Craig’s update below:

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Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.