Man Fatally Shot By Officers Near Kids Football Field In Detroit: Cops

DETROIT — Police fatally shot a man Tuesday night after he fired at officers first near a youth football field in Detroit, according to Detroit Police Assistant Chief Charles Fitzgerald.

The shootout happened at 7:10 p.m. on Chandler Park Drive and Radnor Street where officers noticed a man they knew from a previous narcotics deal, according to Fitzgerald.

There were also young children playing little league football in the area where officers spotted the man, who was in his late-30s, according to Fitzgerald.

Officers entered his name into a police database and learned he had a parole violation, according to Fitzgerald.

When officers were getting out of their patrol car, the man "pulled a gun from his waistband and fired shots at the officer," according to Fitzgerald.

An officer quickly returned fire and fatally shot the man, according to Fitzgerald.

One officer thought he was shot and was taken to a nearby hospital where it was determined that he was not and did not sustain any injuries in the shooting, according to Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said the officer assumed he was shot after noting a "strike mark" on the lower part of the passenger door of the patrol car.

Fitzgerald said the shooter had "a lengthy criminal history," which was too much to list.

There were no other injuries in the shootout, according to Fitzgerald.

"We were very, very fortunate that some of these young kids did not get injured in a shootout," Fitzgerald said.

Though the shooting happened in an area where young children were playing football, Fitzgerald encouraged parents to "keep coming out with their kids and keep practicing."

"I’m sure it’s gonna be a long season for (them)," Fitzgerald said. "The officers are out here for that very reason, they’re out here trying to keep everyone safe. You know a routine patrol, they happened to notice this guy. They know him from previous encounter. They tried to do an encounter on him, and this is where we’re at."