DETROIT (WWJ) - A barricaded gunman on Detroit's east side is finally in custody after a three-day standoff with police.
The incident started around 2 a.m. Tuesday in the 19000 block of Pelkey, off 7 Mile Road just west of Schoenherr, when the 45-year-old man, described as a "bounty hunter," apparently got into a dispute with his new neighbors. During the argument, the suspect armed himself and started shooting at his neighbors, according to police.
Officers responded to the home, but were unable to locate or make contact with the suspect and eventually left the scene. Hours later, around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, the suspect fired off more shots and then retreated inside his home. When officers responded to the scene this time, they surrounded the home and declared a barricaded gunman situation.
A special response unit and hostage negotiation team had sporadic contact with the suspect over the past couple days, but he refuses to surrender. Police have also attempted several times to drive the suspect from the home by using tear gas, water and other distraction techniques, all to no avail.
Neighbors were told to shelter in place.
Police Chief James Craig said the suspect also disabled at least one robot and a drone that officers were using at the scene.
"During the course of the standoff, there were statements made by the suspect, who does suffer from mental illness, that the first person to come through were going to, in his words, going to get it," Craig said late Thursday morning. "Over this three day period, we have had on-again off-again communications. At times it was indiscernible what he was saying, it suggested that maybe he was under the influence."
Craig said they came in contact with the suspect was around 9 p.m. Wednesday, when officers also heard a single gunshot.
"At the time, we didn't know if it was self-inflicted or he just fired a shot to let us know he was still around. We did hear him uttering things, some utterances after that, but from that time we have not heard or seen any movement," he said just before noon Thursday. "At this point, we are in a mode of wellness. We are in the process of now planning to make entry for the first time during this incident."
Before 3:30 p.m., Craig said the suspect, whom he called "a survivalist" was taken into custody without incident.
Craig told reporters it was the longest standoff he's ever seen in his career, but it was "the right thing to do."
"The suspect had bunkered down and really concealed himself. So, again, our concern going in too quickly, we're putting officers in the community in direct harm's way. So, it was important for us to stabilize the situation," he said.
While the suspect hasn't been identified, Craig did give some insight to his potential mindset.
"This closely marks the anniversary of his mother's death," he said. "She performed a caretaker function for him. ... We believe that he certainly wasn't taking his medication, and his mother would see to that."
Detroit Police Commander Darin Szilagyi earlier told WWJ the suspect has some special training and equipment that had officers especially on guard.
"We do know, while talking to family and neighbors, he does fancy himself to be a bounty hunter type. He does have some tactical equipment, so it's much of a concern for us. That's why we don't take more aggressive action. We want this to resolve with him walking out the door," said Szilagyi.
Craig said the man was taken for treatment of mental health issues following his arrest.
It's unclear what charges he may face.