Craig: Suspect shot at cops with 'assault-type rifle'

Detroit police released images Wednesday of a man who allegedly fired shots at officers on the city's west side earlier in the day.

The images show the suspect running down a street. In the foreground, a vehicle believed to be involved in the incident, a gray, older-model 4-door Chrysler, sits in a parking lot.

The unknown man "ambushed" officers and opened fire with "an assault-type rifle," Chief James Craig told media gathered at the scene.

Two officers from the city's 12th Precinct were shot at around 10:30 a.m. on Remington at Derby, near Woodward and John R, Craig said in a video posted by WDIV-TV (Channel 4). Neither was hit by gunfire and no injuries were reported.

The officers were on a "routine patrol" when they were targeted, Craig said.

"As they approached the intersection, they heard several shots being fired. As they continued to advance in an east-bound direction, they looked and saw a suspect with what appeared to be an assault-type rifle (and) a magazine, a large capacity magazine," Craig said. "(The suspect) began firing shots at the officers. At that point, to avoid being struck by gunfire, the officers quickly accelerated eastbound out of the field of fire."

The gunman, wearing all black over a white T-shirt, was accompanied by two other suspects, Craig said.

Craig said a known drug house on the block may have been the shooter's initial target, but the man apparently zeroed in on the officers once they came into view.

"We do know there is a drug house on this block and there’s been a rift between two opposing drug gangs…we don’t know if the initial volley of fire was targeted at a drug house on this block," he said. "But that said, as the officers came into view of the suspect, he took it upon himself to start firing at the officers."

Witnesses called 911 to report "seeing the suspect point the weapon at the officers and fire the shots," Craig continued. "So again, we believe the officers were targeted at that point. Fortunately, both officers are OK."

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) SPEAK-UP.

Come back to www.detroitnews.com for more on this developing story.

Staff Writer Candice Williams contributed to this report.