Suspect taken into custody for hit-and-run crash that killed off-duty Detroit police officer
(CBS DETROIT) - A suspect wanted in connection with a hit-and-run that killed an off-duty Detroit police officer over the weekend has been taken into custody, police said on Monday.
The suspect's identity has not yet been released.
Police officer Cameron Richardson, 32, was driving home in a Jeep Wrangler after working a shift on Sunday when the suspect allegedly attempted to make the turn into the intersection and hit the Jeep, causing it to roll, according to police.
Richardson died shortly after the crash. He served in the U.S. Army and was with DPD for just over one year.
Police say the vehicle that hit the Jeep allegedly left the scene but was found by Michigan State Police a short distance from the intersection. A firearm was allegedly found in the van.
Richardson leaves behind two daughters, ages 12 and 14, and his parents John and Mona Richardson.
"It's almost like I feel like somebody just knocked me out of my body like an out-of-body experience. Like did you just say that? Like I didn't understand it. It just took me a minute to process what they said when I got the call," said Mona Richardson. "I was relieved that they finally have him, 'cause they did say yesterday they were going to give him 24 hours, so I was happy that they got him today."
"His daughters are so smart, so so smart," she added. "I know the oldest one goes to Renaissance and she wants to go to Sanford or Brown. So she wants to go to a really good college, and same with the youngest one. So that's going to be such a blessing 'cause I know that's what he wants."
Mona Richardson says the family is responsible for much of the cost of the funeral because Cameron Richardson was killed off-duty. The family has created a GoFundMe page to help cover the funeral, which they expect to be sometime next week.
