DETROIT (WWJ) — Three people are in custody in connection with the shooting death of an Oakland County Sheriff's deputy late Saturday night in Detroit.
Deputy Brad Reckling was working undercover on Detroit’s east side late Saturday night, following a stolen Chevy Equinox that had been reported stolen from the Red Oaks Waterpark in Madison Heights sometime between 1-5:15 p.m., according to Sheriff Mike Bouchard.
Reckling and two other members of the sheriff's department's auto theft unit began investigating and tracked the SUV to Detroit. Bouchard said, according to preliminary information, the three deputies were all in separate unmarked cars and Reckling was the first to come across it around 10:50 p.m.
He was behind the SUV, which suddenly stopped in the area of Gratiot and McNichols. The suspects then got out and opened fire, hitting Reckling in the head and chest before fleeing. The other deputies soon found Reckling at the scene.
"It was an ambush," Bouchard said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.
The sheriff said the investigation is still in its early stages, and it's not entirely clear what prompted the suspects to open fire on the unmarked car.
"I can't get in their head, I can only surmise given my years of police work they felt they had been made, and that was their decision, to instead of giving up or just running, to open fire on the lone deputy. Over a car," Bouchard said.
The shooting prompted a massive response from the Michigan State Police and Detroit Police Department, who set up a hard perimeter as the search for suspects began.
Bouchard said three people were taken into custody, but no details on the suspects have been released. He said DPD will likely provide any other updates on that part of the case.
The 30-year-old Reckling, a nine-year member of the sheriff's department, was a husband and father of three daughters with another child on the way, Bouchard said.
Bouchard said Reckling was "loved and admired by his colleagues. He had been assigned to the Rochester Hills substation but had recently transferred to the Auto Theft Unit. Reckling’s death leaves a void that is impossible to fill and is devastating to the Sheriff’s Office."
“You can see it in their eyes how soul crushing this is,” Bouchard said.
How to support the Reckling family
Anyone who would like to support Deputy Reckling’s family, can donate to the charity Mission Oakland. The sheriff's office says 100% of donations made will go directly to his family.
Donations can be made at this website, or mailed with Attention to Mission Oakland, 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Building 38E Pontiac MI 48341. “Deputy Reckling” should be put on the memo and checks payable to Mission Oakland.
"I am heartbroken to learn of the shooting death of an Oakland County Sheriff’s deputy," Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said in a post on X. "Please keep him, his loved ones and his county colleagues in your heart today. I’ve been in contact with Sherriff Bouchard, and further details will come from his office."
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest details as they become available. >>> LISTEN LIVE!