DETROIT – Police released footage of the chase involving a Detroit man on the city’s east side.
According to Warren police, the chase stemmed from an attempted arson and domestic violence investigation.
Police officers initially responded to a home on Prospect Avenue in Warren on July 8, just before 3 a.m., regarding a reported domestic disturbance. The caller reported that her boyfriend had assaulted and strangled her before trying to light the house on fire.
The man drove away before officers arrived. Police spoke to the victim and learned that the suspect was likely armed and had reportedly shown the victim the handgun during a previous domestic violence incident.
After further investigation, police believed the man could be in the area of McNichols and Van Dyke in Detroit. When officers arrived at the area, they found him in his car. This led to a police chase.
During the chase, police said the man fired several shots at officers from his car. In the area of Castle Avenue and Kennedy, the man got out of the car and tried to run away while continuing to shoot at officers.
Near the man’s mother’s home by Castle Avenue and Montlieu Avenue, they found him with a gunshot wound to his head. He died at the scene.
Police later identified the suspect as Rakim Wright from Detroit.
On July 10, police released video of the chase, as well as a portion of the domestic violence victim’s statement describing what had happened to her.
The series of video recordings began with the victim calling 911, reporting her boyfriend had assaulted her and lit her house on fire. She was later seen giving a statement to police about what had happened, and she explained Wright may be armed as she recently encountered him while he was holding a handgun.
Police showed security footage at a gas station showing Wright holding a handgun while confronting the victim at her car.
In the next footage, gunshots were heard throughout the police chase from what appeared to be coming from Wright’s car.
The chase continued until they caught up with Wright in the area of Castle Avenue and Kennedy, where Wright was seen on bodycam video appearing to have pointed a gun at himself and fired a shot before he fell to the ground.
Police said Wright had a gunshot wound to his head and died at the scene. No other injuries were seen on Wright, according to police.
Warren police said there have been "blatantly incorrect narratives" surrounding claims that officers shot and killed Wright. During the press conference, police said Wright shot himself.
Warren police also emphasized only eight shots were fired by officers during the chase, and no officers were struck.