ROSEVILLE, Mich. (FOX 2) - Authorities determined that a Roseville police shooting that left a suspect in critical condition was justified, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham announced Thursday.
The 36-year-old suspect rammed a patrol vehicle in the parking lot of the police department before getting out of his car armed with a knife and allegedly approaching officers early Oct. 13.
The backstory:
Around 4:40 a.m. an officer was in a patrol vehicle about to head to a call when a driver hit the back of the legally parked patrol vehicle in the parking lot of the police station. That driver then got out of his car armed with a knife, the sheriff's office said. He did not speak to police during this.
Despite commands to drop the knife, the suspect approached officers while still holding the weapon, the sheriff's office said. This led to two officers who were nearby shooting the suspect. Another officer also deployed a Taser.
"You can’t count on that taser," Wicksham said, noting that the encounter happened very quickly. "He’s armed, he’s a threat, they feared for their life."
The suspect was wounded and taken to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
What we know about the suspect:
The suspect is from Roseville. Police said they haven't been able to talk to him because of his condition, so they have spoken to his family to learn more about him.
According to Wickersham, the suspect's family said he did have some mental health concerns. However, a motive is unknown. The sheriff added that his family said he was a supporter of law enforcement, and he does not have a criminal history.
"There was note, no manifesto, no anything like that that would give us any indication of why he targeted them that day," Wickersham said.
He was driving his father's car when he slammed into the patrol vehicle.
The suspect was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and malicious destruction of police property, but he has not been arraigned.
It is unclear if he will survive.
"It's touch and go," Wickersham said, noting that the sheriff's department checks on his condition daily.
What's next:
If the suspect survives, he will be arraigned on the charges and identified at that time.
The three officers who have been on leave are expected to return to work Friday.
"They're great officers, and we’re looking forward to getting them back," Roseville Police Chief Mitch Berlin said.
A plan is currently underway to better secure the Roseville Police Department parking lot to prevent future incidents like the one that led to the police-involved shooting. This includes limiting parking next to the police station to allow officers to have more time to observe their surroundings when they exit the building.
The Source: This information is from previous reporting.
Watch FOX 2 News Live
This browser does not support the Video element.