DETROIT — A Detroit officer and a suspect, who police said was "indiscriminately" firing, were fatally shot Wednesday night near Joy Road and Marlowe Street on the city's west side, Detroit police Chief James White said.
"It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform our department and our community that we lost one of our heroes today," said White, speaking outside of Sinai-Grace Hospital in Detroit. "Very sad and tragic event. And I just ask that we respect the fact that this is an active investigation. Family members still need to be notified. (There's) so this much information that we cannot share with you right now."
The officer was a five-year veteran with the department, White said. He "comes from a long history of law enforcement officers." The officer's father, White said, recently retired from the department.
"The officers are heartbroken," he said.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, who met with the officer's family at the hospital, described him as a dedicated public servant.
"We owe a debt of gratitude to all the officers out there working," he told reporters while solemnly standing with White and other officers.
White released few details about the incident, which he said started with a 911 call about a suspect "who was firing shots indiscriminately" near Joy and Marlowe.
Officers from the Detroit Police Department's Second Precinct responded within two minutes, the chief said.
When they arrived, the suspect opened fire with an assault rifle, he said, striking one of the officers.
"Sadly the officer was struck and succumbed to his injuries," White said. "His partner was able to return fire and the suspect was fatally struck, as well.
White said he had no other details on the suspect.
"It's just a tragic event. We lost a hero today and the department and the city is grieving," he said. "...The officers are heartbroken and they are constantly doing exactly what this community needs and what we want them to do, and that's put their lives on the line and work very hard for this city."
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