DETROIT – An 18-year-old is in critical condition after being shot by police on Detroit’s east side late Tuesday night.
The shooting happened on Oct. 21 just before 10 p.m. on E 7 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue.
“I can tell you that [police] feared for their life, he had been combative, and he produced a handgun,” said Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison.
Bettison said the Detroit police Gang Intelligence Unit pulled over a Chevy Malibu for an obscured license plate.
“As you all know, we have been doing heavy traffic enforcement along Gratiot based off the high incidents of traffic accidents,” said Bettison.
There were two women in the car, their ages are not known, along with the 18-year-old.
Police said the female driver let police search the car, but the 18-year-old got combative as they tried to get him out of the Malibu.
Officers said they used a taser, but it was unclear if it was effective.
“At that point, the male subject was able to break free, fled on foot, produced a handgun -- which has been recovered,” said Bettison.
The police chief said one officer fired a single shot, hitting the teen in the upper body.
The 18-year-old was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
“My sincere prayers go out to his family, but, definitely, when you pull a weapon on a Detroit police officer, or any officer, these are the types of things that happen,” said Bettison.
Watch the full press conference below:
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