Woman killed by Detroit police had gun, bat, knives and had assaulted child, chief says
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Detroit police have put three officers on administrative leave after a deadly shooting involving a woman who appears to have been experiencing a mental health episode early Thursday evening.
Police received two 911 calls from an individual who said her daughter was armed with a bat and knives, had struck her and her grandson, and that she was worried about their safety. She later told police the woman was also in possession of a firearm.
A struggle ensued between police and the woman after officers had confronted her at the front door of her home, where she was holed up with her children. Shots were fired after the woman went to pick up the firearm that was in the house and an officer attempted to stop her.
Chief James White said the details about the incident were still preliminary and more investigation was needed, but emphasized that when children are potentially threatened, police prioritize their safety.
"If the suspect was alone, we would have used the barricaded gunman process," he said late Friday morning.
The incident started when dispatch received a 911 call at 6:20 p.m. It was from a caller who said her daughter was schizophrenic and that she had struck her grandson, and he was bleeding. Another call came five minutes later from the same person who said a "felon was pointing a gun" at her.
Police have since confirmed the caller was the mother of the woman and the kids involved were her grandchildren. Their ages at 1 and 7.
When police arrived at the scene, both the grandmother and a relative had escaped from the home, which was located on Detroit's west side at Meyers Road and Pilgrim Street. Two kids were still inside, however.
The woman opened the door when police approached the home and officers could see children behind the woman. When police asked the kids if they were okay, the woman refused to allow them to answer and disrupted the conversation, White said. "She told them to go up to their room and go away," he said.
A firearm was visible to police before the woman closed the door.
DPD: Armed woman fatally shot by Detroit police after assaulting family during mental health crisis
The woman then became agitated when she opened the door a second time when officers attempted to get inside and reached for a firearm. Police instructed her not to do that and one officer tried stopping her.
White said during the struggle, another officer fired. A total of four rounds were fired by three officers. The woman died from her injuries soon after.
The deadly shooting is the second involving DPD and someone experiencing a mental health crisis this year. In October, 20-year-old Porter Burks was killed after police said he charged at them with a knife.