NORTHVILLE TWP, Mich. – An investigation that started with a car bombing in Northville Township ends with a police chase through two counties and a man shot dead by Michigan State Police.
Northville Township public safety director John Werth says Tuesday in a release that 18-year-old Gabriel Stevenson was confronted by officers after trying to break into the house through a window, reports the AnnArbor.com.
Werth says Stevenson, of Ypsilanti, "lunged at officers with a knife and was fatally shot."
Northville police said they were investigating a suspicious car that had its license plate covered up in the area of 6 Mile and Napier roads at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday when another car nearby blew up.
Police said they spotted Stevenson in the area and pulled him over.
He refused to answer questions and took off, firing shots at police as he fled.
Michigan State Police joined Northville police in pursuit of the Stevenson, until he crossed over into Salem Township and crashed his pickup truck into a home in the area of 6 Mile and Dixboro roads.
"The subject then left on foot and the troopers were pursing the subject. The suspect then charged one of the troopers with a knife," said MSP Lt. Joel Allen. "One of the troopers fired one round at the subject and that ended the pursuit."
No one was hurt as a result of the car bombing and the three people who were inside the Salem Township home when the suspect crashed into it were also not hurt.
Police haven't said who the car that caught fire belongs to.
MSP said in compliance with department policy, the trooper was placed on administrative leave while the incident remains under investigation.