[Gunfire]
A resident near the intersection of Blaine and Adams in southeast Grand Rapids released doorbell video and audio of the gun battle Tuesday afternoon.
“At least four rounds were fired at the officers immediately. Both officers fired. I don’t know how many times they fired. I know the squad car was hit. I’ll take that as a win. It was the only thing that was struck.”
In a briefing to reporters, police chief Eric Winstrom says a senior training officer and a recruit with two months on the job were on patrol when they spotted a man on foot suspected in the theft of a firearm.
“So, they just stopped and called him over. ‘Hey, can we speak to you?’ And that’s when he turned and fired his gun.”
Fired and ran, but within minutes other officers captured the suspect.
“18 years old, the suspect is 18 years old.”
And a police drone located the gun.
“Put it up almost immediately and found through a heat signature the firearm that had been discarded.”
Investigators will use forensics and other tools to determine if the gun was used in other crimes. And confronted with the dangerous reality of police work, the chief says he is concerned the new recruit may resign.
“I’ve seen that so many times in my career. When you get into a traumatic situation just quit the job on that very same day. He is in good spirits. I think it certainly helps no one was injured in this.”
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