A Michigan State Police trooper is expected to recover after being shot in the leg while searching for suspected robbers on Detroit's east side Monday, according to investigators.
Police arrested two suspects and searched Monday for two more, State Police Lt. Michael Shaw said.
Investigators Monday processed the scene where the shooting happened at around 4 a.m., in an abandoned home in the 5000 block of Townsend, near Gratiot and East Warren Avenue.
"As the troopers entered one of the houses, they were fired on by the suspects," Shaw said. "One of the troopers -- a 12-year veteran -- was struck in the leg. He was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital. He's currently doing fine. No other officers were injured."
Shaw said late Monday the trooper, whose name he did not release, is in good condition at Detroit Receiving and expected to make a full recovery. He said the trooper is expected to remain hospitalized 48 hours for observation.
The situation began at about 3:50 a.m. at Gratiot and Townsend, Shaw said. Detroit Police investigators alerted troopers to stop a car suspected of being involved in a series of robberies, with the robbers impersonating police. Shaw said the latest robberies happened overnight.
The suspects ran from the vehicle down Townsend, Shaw said. The shooting took place as officers surrounded the area and systematically searched abandoned homes, which make up about 50% of the neighborhood.
Shaw said reports that 100 shots rang out are exaggerated.
Officers arrested two suspects immediately after the shooting. Investigators formed a perimeter around an abandoned home where they suspected two other suspects were hiding. They discovered the home was empty at about 9:15 a.m., Shaw said.
"The suspects were telling us there were two more guys there. They were not being truthful," Shaw said.
Shaw said authorities are not looking for any other suspects in connection with the shooting of the trooper. He said investigators will present the case to prosecutors later this week.
Shaw said one of the suspects was injured when he jumped out of a second-floor window. He said the other suspect was also injured, sustaining a gunshot wound to his hand.
Copyright 2013 - Detroit Free Press
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
