A tragic encounter late Thursday night on Detroit's east side resulted in the death of a 16-year-old and a non-fatal injury to a Detroit police officer, as reported by several sources. The incident occurred in the vicinity of Neff Avenue and Chester Street around 10:30 p.m., during what Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison has described as a routine patrol in an area recently troubled by a spike in break-ins.
The Detroit News detailed that officers observed three masked individuals standing beside a building, which prompted them to investigate. A foot chase ensued when two of the suspects fled. After capturing one suspect, a struggle occurred, during which "the suspect was reaching for a handgun, trying to get it, was able to get the handgun and shot one of our officers in ... what I'm being told (was) the left hand," Bettison said. Police then returned fire, resulting in the fatality of the armed teenager.
The other individual detained at the scene was also identified as a 16-year-old, whereas authorities are still on the lookout for the third individual who managed to escape, as per information from FOX 2 Detroit. The injured officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover from the gunshot wound to the hand.
A .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine, believed to be the weapon used to shoot the officer, was retrieved from the crime scene. In a statement obtained by CBS Detroit, Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw said, "Policing is a dangerous job," while expressing relief that the officer's injuries were not more severe. Shaw underscored the work of law enforcement officers and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 800.SPEAK.UP.
