Detroit Police Officer, Shooter Killed In Shooting: Officials

DETROIT — A Detroit Police officer and the suspected shooter were both killed Wednesday evening in a shooting on Detroit's west side, police said.

Police said officers responded to a report of shots fired in the area of Joy Road and Marlowe Street at 7:54 p.m. As officers arrived, a shooter began firing shots at them with a Draco assault weapon, police said.

Officer Loren Courts was struck by the shots. He was taken to Sinai Grace Hospital, where he later died from gunshot injuries, police said.

Courts' partner immediately returned fire, fatally striking the shooter, police said.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform our department and our community that we lost one of our heroes today," Detroit Police Chief James White said. "The officers are heartbroken, and they are constantly doing exactly what this community needs and what we want them to do, and that's put their lives on the line and work very hard for this city and this department day in and day out."

Courts was a five-year veteran of the Detroit Police department. His father was also a Detroit officer and recently retired from the department. Courts is survived by his wife and two kids, a 15-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter.