Detroit police release dash cam video of fatal shooting after suspect drove through crime scene

Suspect drove through crime scene, struck officer, police say

DETROIT – Police shot and killed a man who drove through a crime scene in Detroit where five people had been shot and one person was killed in a car crash.

Police were called to the area of McNichols Road and Ward Avenue at 10:40 p.m. on Sunday where five people had reportedly been shot. Police said the victims range in age from 18 to 36 years old and are still alive.

There was a car crash at the same time in that location that left one man dead and another hospitalized. Police said the two incidents are connected.

While police were investigating, Detroit police Chief James Craig said a man drove through the crime scene, hitting an officer and firing shots from the vehicle.

Craig said before the suspect drove through the crime scene, he was sitting in his vehicle nearby and drinking alcohol.

“His music was loud. It was as if he was preparing himself for battle,” Craig said.

That suspect was followed to 8 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue where he exited the vehicle, according to police. Officials said that officers returned fire.

The 27-year-old man was pronounced dead at a hospital.

“Clearly this was a suspect that we had to apprehend. Clearly, he was focused on one thing and one thing only, to kill a police officer,” Craig said. “We don’t know if he was going through a state of depression at the time. Again, as it was indicated there was a posting on Facebook clearly indicating and I’ll just make a reference to it, ‘I’m hurt, man.’ That’s all he said. And this was in response to the loss of his good friend, a 21-year-old male.”

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said the officers involved acted heroically.

“It looked like the officers last night were heroic. I just want to commend Chief Craig and the Detroit Police Department,” Duggan said.

The 27-year-old does not have a criminal history. Police believe his violent actions may have been triggered by trauma he recently experienced.

“He lost a 21-year-old friend a day prior to a dice game,” Craig said.

Craig offered condolences to the suspect’s family.

READ: More Detroit crime coverage


About the Authors:

Victor Williams joined Local 4 News in October of 2019 after working for WOIO in Cleveland, OH, WLOX News in Biloxi, MS, and WBBJ in Jackson, TN. Victor developed a love for journalism after realizing he was a great speaker and writer at an early age.

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