A Macomb County sheriff's deputy fatally shot a suspect yesterday after officials said the man stopped on 26 Mile Road, got out while armed, and moved toward deputies. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene, turning a stretch of rural Macomb County roadway into an active crime scene and traffic headache.
The confrontation followed information from Chesterfield Township police about a suspect wanted in connection with felonious assault and fleeing and eluding, according to the Detroit Free Press. Authorities said the suspect fled west on 26 Mile Road, backed his vehicle into a patrol motorcycle near Gratiot Avenue, then stopped and exited while armed; one deputy discharged a firearm.
Oakland County Will Handle The Shooting Investigation
The investigation was turned over to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, rather than remaining with the agency whose deputy fired. Oakland County's Special Investigations Unit has handled major crimes and officer-involved shooting investigations, according to an official sheriff's office annual report.
The outside review is expected to focus on the sequence of the pursuit, the suspect's weapon and the moments leading up to the shooting. The available initial information does not identify the suspect or the deputy, and it does not include a public finding about whether the shooting was justified.
26 Mile Road Closed In Multiple Sections
The Macomb County Department of Roads announced closures along 26 Mile Road while investigators worked the scene, including a section between Broughton and Ray Center roads and another stretch between Gratiot Avenue and M-19 in New Haven, the Free Press reported. The closures were listed as remaining in place until further notice, so drivers crossing the northern Macomb corridor should expect detours and delays.
The shooting comes weeks after a separate fatal police shooting in Fraser involving a 15-year-old boy during a domestic-dispute response. In that case, the Macomb County Sheriff's Office later said the Fraser officers' actions were justified, according to CBS News Detroit.
The new case remains in its early stages, with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office now responsible for gathering evidence and determining what happened before the deputy opened fire. Further details about the suspect, the weapon, and any potential prosecutorial review were not immediately available.
