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Chief James White at Thursday's briefing (Photo: Video screenshot)
A 19-year-old gunman came at officers after fatally shooting one Wednesday night on Detroit's west side, Detroit Police Chief James White said. Police ended up killing him.
"He wanted to commit suicide by cop," said White at a press conference livestreamed from police headquarters Thursday.
Officer Loren Courts, 40, a five-year veteran of the force, was fatally shot in the neck by the suspect, Ehmani Mack Davis. Courts is the son of a retired Detroit officer.
Second Precinct officers responded to a 911call of shots fired around 7:30 p.m. near Joy Road and Marlowe Street on the west side.
Courts and partner Amanda Hudgens were still in their patrol car when the gunman fired through his apartment window, White said. He shot Courts with a Draco pistol described as the equivalent of an AK-47.
Both officers got out to take cover. But White said Courts was hit in a major artery and collapsed. Hudgens began administering first aid while other officers tried to cover for them.
Loren Courts
The shooter came out with his weapon, walking toward Hudgens, who continued to put pressure on the wound and put her life at risk, White said, describing her as a hero. "I've never seen anything like that," he said of her bravery.
Backup officers then opened fire, shooting the suspect multiple times.
"We should all be outraged," White said, describing Courts as a "great father, great police officer, great brother, great son and great husband."
"We are devastated, but we are not defeated," he said, adding: "We need help. It's not just us. We need the courts, we need the lawmakers to step up. It's getting a little old hearing what everyone is going to do. It's time to do it."
He also had strong comments about the high-powered weapon used.
"My independent position is that these assault weapons should not be available to the public," White said. "It's not for hunting deer in November."
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