WAYNE COUNTY, Mich. – A man was killed in a police shooting in Ecorse Thursday night after officials said he charged at an officer with a box cutter.
The shooting happened on High Street near Drouillard Road and Seminole Street on May 14 at around 8 p.m. Michigan State Police said Ecorse officers responded to a domestic violence assault in the area.
When officers arrived, they found a woman with apparent cut wounds and actively bleeding. While police were gathering information and assessing the situation, the suspect, a 37-year-old man, returned to the scene with a box cutter.
Police said the man refused to drop the box cutter, leading to one officer deploying a taser. The man fell to the ground, but quickly got back up and allegedly charged toward an officer while holding the box cutter.
An Ecorse officer then shot and killed the man, Michigan State Police said.
The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The severity of her injuries is not known.
“Anytime our officers are forced to make split-second decisions involving an armed individual, it is a serious and unfortunate situation for everyone involved,” said Ecorse Police Chief Derran E. Shelby. “Our primary concern at this time is the safety and well-being of the victim, the officers, and the community. In the interest of transparency and accountability, we have requested the Michigan State Police conduct an independent investigation into this incident. We ask the community to remain patient and allow the investigation to proceed based on the facts and evidence.”