Detroit Police Officer Shot Dead and Another Injured While Responding To Home Invasion

A Detroit police officer was killed and another was injured Wednesday night after a gunman opened fire with a high-powered rifle as they responded to a home invasion, the police chief said.

According to authorities, the officer was shot in the neck with a high-powered rifle and he succumbed to his injuries at Sinai-Grace Hospital. A second officer was also severely injured after being shot in the leg.

"Today is a tragic day for the Detroit Police family," Craig said outside Sinai Grace Hospital late Wednesday.

"This is a tragic day for the Detroit police family," Detroit Police Chief James Craig said. "Certainly our hearts and prayers go out to his family, certainly our community and to all the officers in our police department. He fought a good fight."

Investigators said one of the officers managed to return gunfire, striking the suspect. The suspect was was able to flee the scene, but officers apprehended him nearby.

Another officer who has been on the force for three years was shot once in the leg and in temporary serious condition but conscious and able to move around, Craig said. The mayor tweeted that the officer is expected to recover.

The suspect, whose identity was not revealed, was reportedly injured when at least one of the officers returned fire. He was taken to a nearby hospital and the condition of the man wasn’t immediately known. Craig said the suspect has a lengthy criminal history including weapons charges, and was recently released from parole.

Craig called the shootout "part of a domestic situation. Preliminarily, I can say he was looking for his girlfriend, he was angry."

Within minutes’ police flooded the area blocking off roads, the helicopter overhead and K9 units searching for the suspect. The suspected shooter was tracked down quickly - located in a yard just a couple blocks from where the officers were shot. He was taken into police custody.

Craig said the gathering of officers was so large, that he had to tell the news to two different groups at the hospital and he also was the one to deliver the news to the officer's spouse.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan hailed the bravery of the police and said “the whole city is with the family of the deceased officer” as well as the officer who was wounded and being treated at a hospital.