Man shot, killed by Sterling Heights police after armed standoff during welfare check

Sterling Heights police Lt. Aaron Susalla detailed the fatal shooting of a man during a welfare check. On Dec. 3, 2025, at about 3:30 p.m., Sterling Heights police responded to the 44,000 block of Apple Blossom Drive for a welfare check on a man who may have been suicidal, said Susala. When officers arrived, they found the man holding a gun to his head. Susalla said officers retreated and called in a trained negotiator, who spent over an hour trying to resolve the situation peacefully.