Oakland County Deputies Shoot Fleeing Suspect: Report

PONTIAC, MI – A deputy shot one suspect and arrested two others who allegedly brandished guns while driving on Monday night, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday afternoon.

The sheriff’s office received a call at 7:36 p. Monday that a suspect “known to the sheriff’s office” was driving around Pontiac in a white Chevy Trail Blazer showing a handgun, police said in a statement.

A traffic stop was initiated and one of the passengers exited the vehicle with a handgun and fled on foot into a back yard in the 400 block of Emerson, police

• Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts.

When deputies pursuing the suspect ordered him to drop his weapon, he turned toward authorities with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun in his hand.

At that point, the sheriff’s office said, “deputies, in fear for their safety, shot at the suspect until he was no longer an imminent danger.” It’s unclear how many shots were fired.

Deputies treated the suspect at the scene, then summoned an ambulance. The suspect underwent surgery at an area hospital and is in stable condition, the sheriff’s office said.

During a search of the vehicle, police recovered a second semiautomatic handgun.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect who was shot has prior felony convictions “for numerous crimes,” including carrying a concealed weapon and home invasion. Because he is a convicted felon, he is not legally allowed to possess a firearm, the sheriff’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said neither of the semiautomatic handguns seized is registered with the state of Michigan. Authorities have asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to expand the search nationwide to attempt to locate the origin of the firearms.

The incident and investigation has been turned over to the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit. Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be turned over to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office for appropriate charges.