Special Response Team Officer in 'mental crisis' shoots two officers, dies in shootout

DETROIT, MI - In a tragic situation that unfolded in Detroit on October 14th, an off-duty Detroit police officer "struggling with a mental crisis" and "asking for suicide by cop" was shot and killed after he opened fire on police injuring two of his colleagues with a high-powered rifle.

Detroit Police Chief James White described the horrific scene telling reporters that officers on Monday responded to a reported suicide-in-progress and identified the 45-year-old fellow officer as a member of the DPD's special response team according to ABC News. Though off-duty, the officer was in uniform at the time of the incident Chief White told reporters.

Officers of the special response team are "highly trained" Chief White said, adding they handle the "most sensitive cases" and the "most violent perpetrators."

"He is threatening suicide, he is asking for suicide by cop," the Chief told a press conference Monday afternoon. "He is struggling with a mental crisis."

The officer, whose name is being withheld by officials, reportedly fired into the air with a high-powered rifle, leading the responding officers to seek cover behind a vehicle. The suicidal officer then approached the vehicle and opened fire again, hitting the back of the patrol car repeatedly, and ultimately shot the two officers at close range. The officers returned fire, striking the assailant fatally.
 

Please join us in praying for @detroitpolice 🙏🏼🙏🏼

An off duty officer committed suicide by cop, shooting and wounding two uniformed officers before being killed by return fire.

Praying for the wounded officers and for the entire department and community 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/MVKmJokt0a

— Glendale Arizona FOP Lodge 12 (@GlendaleFOP12) October 15, 2024

Both responding officers were non-fatally wounded, as the suicidal officer had shot them in the legs according to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "The courage they showed in the way that they responded, and the fact that one of our officers who was shot returned fire and ultimately shot the perpetrator, it’s a tragedy for the city," Duggan said. "But it's just a reminder that every Detroiter should be enormously grateful."

Chief White added, "It's extremely tragic. We're not immune to the mental health crises in this city and our country and our state. The officers that responded were heroes."

He told reporters, "Once they recognized it was one of our own members, they still had to do their job."

Chief White explained that the officer was suffering from a "physical" and "degenerative condition," although he couldn't disclose anything further, and the officer had been on restricted duty, only just returning to full duty on October 3rd. "We were hoping that things were moving in the right direction," White lamented. "He had the full support, he got the support he needed from the unit he was assigned to."