Charges expected today for suspect involved in shooting death of Detroit fire lieutenant

TROY, Mich. - The suspect behind the shooting of a Detroit Fire Department lieutenant is expected to be arraigned today.

It'll be the first court appearance for the man since Lt. Francis Dombrowski was shot at a Troy gas station Monday night. 

An initial case of road rage that turned violent, the case took on new meaning when the victim was identified - with those that knew Dombrowski grieving over the loss of an active member of the department.

It happened in the parking lot of a Shell gas station when police say a traffic altercation escalated into a verbal conflict before a suspect shooter open-fired at Dombrowski, killing him. It happened at 9:45 p.m.

The suspect who fled the scene later turned himself in early Tuesday.

"This man was murdered and now a lot of broken hearts are left in the aftermath," said Detroit Fire Department Commissioner Eric Jones.

Dombrowski, 55, was a 29-year veteran of the force and worked at Engine 53 on the city's west side. He had been awarded a Medal of Valor in 2018 for heroism when he crawled through smoke and flames to rescue an unconscious man from a house fire.

Lt. Francis "Frank" Dombrowksi

"It has to stop. I guess nobody fights with their fists anymore -- everybody fights with a gun," said Dombrowski's friend and co-worker, senior Lt. Jimmy Nadolski. "Frank wouldn't fight you with his fists or a gun. He'd fight you with his words, and nine times out of ten he was going to beat your butt."

RELATED: Officials identify victim of Troy shooting as Detroit fire lieutenant

Dombrowski leaves behind his siblings and family. 

The suspect is expected to be formally charged during his arraignment Wednesday.