Morning Briefing Dec. 1, 2020: Suspect killed after shooting at Detroit police precinct, bed capacity dwindling at some Michigan hospitals

Here are this morning’s top stories

Detroit police were in a standoff with grocery store thieves Dec. 1, 2020 near Conner Street and Mack Avenue. (WDIV)

What to know today 🌅

Shooting outside DPD’s 5th Precinct, suspect killed

A man armed with a high-powered rifle was killed during a shootout with police after he murdered a woman over a child custody issue and fired shots into a police station, according to authorities.

Officials said a 28-year-old woman was shot and killed by the 28-year-old man around 11:15 p.m. Monday in the area of Grand River and Warren avenues on Detroit’s west side.

Fast facts:

  • A man fatally shot a woman Monday night near Grand River and Warren avenues.
  • Detroit police said the same man opened fire on the Detroit Police Department’s 5th Precinct about 5:15 a.m. Tuesday.
  • The man was fatally shot by officers after a short standoff in the parking lot of a closed business on Conner Street.
  • Local 4 originally reported this was related to a break-in at Harper Food Service on Harper Avenue. That was not the case, as the police chief later explained.

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Bed capacity dwindling at some Michigan hospitals amid COVID surge

Several Michigan hospitals, including some in Metro Detroit, are seeing more and more beds filled as COVID-19 continues to surge in the state.

Here’s a look at some bed occupancy percentages at hospitals in Southeast Michigan as of Nov. 30: (The percentage of staffed inpatient beds occupied by any patient regardless of COVID-19 status. This includes surge or overflow beds.) View here.

Gift of Warmth telethon: You can donate to help families in need

All day Tuesday, Local 4 viewers can help THAW keep the lights and heat on for these families by donating to the Gift of Warmth telethon.

The telethon runs from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. THAW staff and volunteers will work in a virtual phone bank, taking calls remotely to keep everyone safe. Every dollar donated will be used to help pay utility bills.

The toll free number is 800-866-8429 (THAW).

THAW distributed more than $15 million in utility assistance to nearly 18,000 Michigan households last year. More than 28,000 children and 4,800 seniors lived in homes that received help.

Anyone in an energy crisis can apply for help from the Heat and Warmth fund. Recipients include seniors, unemployed or underemployed and the disabled.


Coronavirus in Michigan 🦠

The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 360,449 as of Monday, including 9,134 deaths, state officials report.

Monday’s update represents 10,428 new cases and 98 additional deaths over the last two days -- an average of 5,214 cases and 49 deaths per day. On Saturday, the state reported 350,021 total cases and 9,036 deaths.

New COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise in Michigan. Testing has increased in recent weeks, with more than 45,000 diagnostic tests reported per day, but the positive rate has increased to near 13% over the last week. Hospitalizations have increased steadily for the last five weeks, including upticks in critical care and ventilator use.

Michigan’s 7-day moving average for daily cases was 6,759 on Sunday, slightly lower than one week ago. The 7-day death average was 82, the highest since May. The state’s fatality rate is 2.6%. The state also reports “active cases,” which were listed at 175,700 on Saturday, near its highest mark on record. More than 165,000 have recovered in Michigan.

According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 5 million have recovered in the U.S., with more than 13.4 million cases reported across the country. More than 267,000 have died in the U.S.

Worldwide, more than 62.9 million people have been confirmed infected and more than 1.46 million have died, according to Johns Hopkins University. The true numbers are certainly much higher, because of limited testing, different ways nations count the dead and deliberate under-reporting by some governments.

Here’s a look at more of the data:


Weather forecast: Still some snow yet to go

The Winter Weather Advisory for Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties remains in effect until noon, and until 4 p.m. for St. Clair, Lapeer and Sanilac Counties.


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About the Author:

Cassidy Johncox is a senior digital news editor covering stories across the spectrum, with a special focus on politics and community issues.