Suspect fatally shot by police in Waterford neighborhood

Image 1 of 2

A domestic assault suspect was shot and killed by police in Waterford early Friday morning.

Waterford Police Chief Scott Underwood says the suspect pulled out a shotgun on police, and they fired. It's not known right now how many times he was shot, or how many officers fired at him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

We're told this started as a domestic situation around 3 a.m. when Bloomfield Township Police say the 56-year-old suspect assaulted his 81-year-old mother at a home. Waterford Police say the suspect then made threatening phone calls to his brother, who lives in Waterford, saying he was coming to his house with a shotgun. 

Police arrived at the mother's home after he had already left, and put out a BOL (be on the lookout). Police were able to go to the Waterford home in the 2000 block of Barkman Drive and safely relocate the family before the suspect got there. 

Later on, we're told at least two Waterford officers came in contact with the suspect in a blue BMW. That's when police say he pulled out a shotgun on officers.

"It appears, preliminarily, that there was a shotgun pointed at one of the officers. Our officers returned fire before they were shot, and the suspect is deceased," Chief Underwood said. 

FOX 2 spoke with the suspect's brother at the home in Waterford, and he identified the suspect to us as Steven Ballard of Fenton. 

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office will investigate the shooting. 

This is a developing story. Stay with FOX 2 for updates.