Crime & Safety
Police ID Man Killed By Royal Oak Cop, Say He Had Record
Police say the 28-year-old from Commerce Township had "numerous" encounters with police leading up to the fatal shooting.
ROYAL OAK, MI — A man shot and killed by a Royal Oak police officer Tuesday evening has been identified as 28-year-old Antonino Thomas Gordon, of Commerce Township. He was fatally wounded after fleeing during an attempted traffic stop, according to authorities. Gordon had “numerous contacts with law enforcement,” Royal Oak authorities said Wedensday, including multiple arrests for operating while intoxicated and disorderly conduct. At the time of the incident, Gordon had a criminal bench warrant for his arrest with a bail of $75,000.
Police say they attempted to pull the man over around 6:11 p.m., but he fled in his vehicle. Officers caught up with him 15 minutes later in a drive-thru at White Castle near 13 Mile and Coolidge Highway and opened fire on the man. Gordon allegedly then attempted to flee again and crashed the vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
"We saw the cop pull up to White Castle, and we saw him get out and draw his gun immediately. We heard four or five gunshots," WDIV reported one witness saying. "We could see him swerving and driving really slow, and he looked out of it. And then he just started coasting into oncoming traffic, and I assumed that he passed out."
Per department policy, the officer, who was uninjured, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.
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“This loss of life is tragic and the Royal Oak Police Department understand the public’s desire for more details of this incident, yet it would be inappropriate to release partial information until the investigation is complete,” police said in an announcement Wednesday.
This is the second fatal police shooting in Oakland County this week. Police shot and killed 23-year-old Robert George Issa after he reportedly threatened officers with knives on April 9. Officers first tried to subdue the man with a Taser.
Find out what's happening in Royal Oakfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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Photo by Jessica Strachan/Patch
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