WATERFORD TWP. (WWJ) -- An investigation is ongoing in Waterford Township, after officers shot and killed a suspect involved in a police chase.
WWJ's Charlie Langton reports Michigan State Police troopers from the Metro South Post, which is located in Taylor, were chasing the driver of a gray Kia vehicle through multiple cities, ending up in Waterford, where the shooting occurred.
The Waterford Police Department said it responded at around 9:50 p.m. Thursday to a request for assistance from the troopers, who had pursued the feeling suspect into Waterford.
The suspect, a 60-year-old Madison Heights man, turned into a neighborhood near Turrillium Lane and Williams Lake Road where he crashed into a tree, police said.
The vehicle came to rest in a low marshy area, where troopers and Waterford officers approached.
They ordered to man to show his hands, police said, but he failed to comply and allegedly raised a handgun — while still seated in the vehicle and pointed it at police.
The Waterford PD said officers, "fearing for their lives," then opened fire on the man. Neighbor Kevin Brady said he heard multiple gunshots, at around 10 p.m.
"Anywhere from five to ten (gunshots)," Brady said. "It was within five seconds; it was like bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang — something like that. I couldn't count them they were so fast. But you could tell they were gunshots because, you know, nothing sounds like that."
After the shooting, officers secured the suspect’s handgun and immediately rendered aid.
EMS responded, and the man was pronounced dead on the scene.
Waterford Regional Fire Department responded and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office responded to process the scene and are now investigating the shooting.
The Waterford Township officers involved have been placed on administrative leave during the investigation, police said,
Langton was on the scene Friday morning as the damaged Kia and a MSP vehicle were being pulled from a field and towed away. Langton said there were multiple gunshots visible in the Kia's driver-side door.
The name of the man who was killed has not yet been released, and it's not yet why police were pursuing him.
No injuries to the troopers or officers were reported.
This was one of two unrelated deadly police shootings in Metro Detroit Thursday night. The other was in Ecorse.
