Detroit cops shoot and kill veteran officer who opened fire on them in apparent suicide attempt
Detroit police officers shot and killed a veteran officer who opened fire on them in an apparent suicide attempt Monday afternoon.
The unidentified 45-year-old gunman, who had 13 years of experience in the city’s police force, opened fire on his fellow officers with a “high-powered rifle” – wounding two before they returned fire, according to reports The Detroit News.
He struggled with his mental health and “asked for suicide by officer,” Chief James White announced at a news conference hours after the officer’s shocking death.
The chief noted that the officer had recently been off work and had recently returned to “full duty.”
He was wearing his uniform at the time, but was off duty at the time of the shooting.
An off-duty Detroit officer was shot and killed by his fellow officers Monday afternoon
White said the police-involved shooting occurred after officers from the 11th Precinct responded to a 911 call for a “suicide in progress” around 2:26 p.m.
They then discovered that the person threatening suicide was a cop.
“Upon arrival they hear gunshots,” White said.
“The suspect has been identified as a member of our department. He’s a member of our special response team. He’s off duty.
‘He’s threatening suicide. He’s asking for suicide by cop,” the chief said.
The officer fired into the air as police arrived, and they took cover behind a vehicle, but the gunman soon approached the vehicle and began shooting into the rear, White said.
“He hits two of our officers, one in the leg and one in the thigh,” the chief said.
“One officer returns fire, fatally wounding the officer in question.”
Chief James White said the unidentified officer was struggling with his mental health and “asked for suicide by officer.”
The officer suffered from a serious “degenerative condition” and had been absent for some time, but returned Oct. 3, White said.
He had no previous mental health problems.
“We were hoping things were moving in the right direction,” the chief told reporters. “From what I understand, it was something positive for him.”