Watch Mich. Police Brave Bullets, Bomb to Pursue Shooting Suspect

By Nathan Clark

Source mlive.com

JACKSON, MI – Police have released dash camera video of a chase through Jackson where a shooting suspect opened fire on pursuing officers and threw pipe bombs at them from a van.

Ahead of a joint press conference scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 26, the Jackson Police Department released photos and the video Monday showing parts of the police chase Nov. 6, when one Jackson police sergeant was shot.

RELATED: Mich. Police Officer Shot while Chasing Pipe Bomb-Lobbing Suspect

The fleeing suspect, Jacob Austin Hikes, 31, of Onsted, was killed in a shootout with police.

The injured sergeant has not been identified. The sergeant has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home on paid administrative leave, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said.

The released videos, three clips in total, clearly record the sound of rapid gunfire coming from Hikes’ van during the pursuit. In another clip, a pipe bomb tossed from the van is seen exploding in the street near a patrol car.

The last video shows the van come to a stop moments before Hikes opens fire on an officer. The officer’s windshield cracks and splinters from the deadly volley before Hicks speeds away again.

At 5:09 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office contacted Jackson County Central Dispatch that a shooting suspect they were tracking with GPS was in the Jackson County area, police said.

The man, Hikes, had allegedly shot his brother at 4:30 p.m. in Lenawee County and was fleeing the area in a maroon van, police said.

Deputies in the neighboring county had initially been called to the 500 block of Pentecost Highway in Franklin Township for a report of domestic violence, according to the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office.

Hicks and his 34-year-old brother were in a physical fight when Hikes pulled out a handgun and shot his brother in the hand then fled the area. A family member took the victim to Hickman Hospital in Adrian, where his injury was deemed minor, police said.

After the information was sent out countywide, a Jackson police officer spotted the van in the 1000 block of Cooper Street on Jackson’s northeast side and began coordinating with the sheriff’s office to stop and apprehend the suspect, police said.

Hikes fled police at a high rate of speed as police approached, leading to pursuit through the city’s east side, police said.

Hikes began firing at police within the first minute of the chase, hitting several vehicles and homes. No residents or bystanders were injured in the shooting, police said.

At 5:41 p.m., near the intersection of Van Dorn and Elizabeth streets, Hikes shot the sergeant. The bullet entered his arm and body, police said.

A deputy rushed the sergeant to Henry Ford Jackson Hospital.

No other officers or deputies were shot in the incident, police said.

Converging officers and deputies were able to stop Hikes. Multiple shots were fired during the attempt to apprehend him and during the exchange of gunfire Hikes was shot and incapacitated, police said.

Lifesaving efforts were performed at the scene before Hikes was taken to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

A deputy and officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave pending internal investigations by their respective agencies, police said.

Michigan State Police are investigation the shooting.

Hikes had a short criminal record that did not include any violent acts. He was charged with drug possession in Jackson County in 2015 and was sentenced to probation in 2017 after pleading guilty, court records show.

He was charged in Lenawee County in 2016 with felony breaking and entering and larceny from a building. He later pleaded guilty to the larceny charge and was sentenced to probation in 2020.

Hikes loved to work on cars and was attending Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering, according to his obituary.

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