DETROIT – The Warren Police Department issued a statement Wednesday to address a shooting that left a Detroit man dead in his mother’s backyard.
The department said investigations of this nature take time and that unverified social media information can be misleading.
“We are confident that the evidence we will present will clearly and unequivocally refute every single one of the false statements, assertions, and conclusions being publicized by certain media outlets,” Warren police said in the statement.
Rakim Wright was killed in Detroit during a shootout with Warren police on Tuesday morning (July 8).
It began when Warren police officers responded to a home on the 13000 block of Prospect Avenue at around 2:50 a.m. regarding a reported domestic disturbance.
A woman allegedly called the police and said her boyfriend had beaten and strangled her before trying to set her house on fire.
The boyfriend was later identified as Wright, who police said drove off before they arrived at the woman’s home.
Police said they tracked Wright into Detroit at the intersection of East 6 Mile Road and Van Dyke Avenue.
When they arrived, officials stated that they found Wright in his car, and a police chase ensued.
Warren police denied claims that officers struck the man with bullets or that he was unarmed during the chase.
The department said video and other evidence will show the man’s death was a direct result of his own actions involving a firearm as officers approached.
Warren police said Wright fired several shots at them from his car before getting out near his mother’s home on Castle and Montlieu avenues.
Police said Wright continued shooting at them while running away before he was found shot in the head in his mother’s backyard.
Video from a man who lives across the street from Wright’s mother shows the aftermath of the shootout. Wright’s friend claims he heard between 40 and 50 total shots.
He said that he saw police immediately start shooting at Wright’s car, and then eventually shooting at Wright, who he says got out of the car with his hands up and unarmed.
By the time the video started, Wright had just collapsed to the ground in his mother’s backyard.
Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. Warren police initially said it was unclear if Wright shot himself or was shot by police during the chase.
Friends who witnessed the incident said Wright did not kill himself.
Local 4 also contacted the Detroit Police Department, which is assisting in the investigation, to confirm whether Warren police had informed them about pursuing Wright into their jurisdiction.
Due to the uproar, the Warren Police Department plans to hold a press conference on Thursday, July 10, at 10:30 a.m. to release video footage and provide additional information.