An 18-year-old man is in critical condition after being shot by a Detroit police officer Tuesday night during a traffic stop on the city’s east side.
The incident happened around 9:42 p.m. near East Seven Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue, near the McDonald’s drive-thru.
According to Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison, officers with the department’s Gang Intelligence Unit pulled over a Chevy Malibu for an obscured license plate. Inside were two women and an 18-year-old man in the back seat.
Bettison said the female driver gave officers permission to search the vehicle. When they tried to remove the male passenger, he resisted and became combative. A taser was deployed but seemingly had no effect on the male.
The man then broke free and ran from officers, pulling out a handgun as he fled. Bettison said one officer fired a single shot, striking the man in the upper body.
He was taken to a Metro Detroit hospital where he remains in critical condition. Police recovered the suspect’s firearm at the scene.
“If you pull a weapon on Detroit officers, or any officer, these are the types of things that happen,” said Bettison.
The officers are being interviewed as part of the investigation.
Bettison added that the department recently increased patrols along Gratiot Avenue due to a rise in crashes and reckless driving incidents.
Discuss On Our Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16TGTSwFN8/