Off-duty Detroit police officer fatally shot during exchange of gunfire with fellow officers
(CBS DETROIT) - Police say the man who shot two Detroit police officers on Monday was a member of the police department.
The shooting happened in the area of Dequindre and Davison.
Detroit Police Chief James White said in a news conference that the officer, 45, was a member of DPD's special response team. The officer, who worked at the department for 13 years, was killed in the shooting.
"He was asking for suicide by cop. He is struggling with a mental crisis. Tragically, we are not immune to mental crisis; we're just like everybody else. Our officers are dealing with this every single day," White said.
Police say the two officers were grazed and are expected to recover.
White said the officer was off-duty but had on his uniform. He had a high-power rifle and fired shots in the air as officers were responding. Police took cover, and the officer approached the vehicle, firing more shots and striking the two officers in the leg and thigh area.
One of the responding officers fired back, killing the officer.
White says prior to the shooting, the officer was working through a "degenerative condition" and was restricted to work. However, he returned to full duty on Oct. 3.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says the shooting is a "tragedy for the city." He commended the two officers who responded despite the difficult situation of the shooter being one of their own.
"They went to that scene knowing they were going to be confronted by a highly-trained and armed officer in the department who was having significant mental issues," Duggan said in the news conference. "It's just a reminder that every Detroiter should just be enormously grateful for the commitment of the service, the men and women of this department."
White says the department will be providing grief counseling for officers. The shooting is being investigated by Michigan State Police.
