Police Hunt Man Who Fired Assault Rifle At Officers In Detroit; 'This Was An Ambush,' Chief Says

DETROIT (WWJ) - Police are on the hunt for a man armed with a long gun who allegedly fired at officers on Detroit's west side.

It happened at around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday — at Remington and Derby, near 8 Mile Road and John R — while police were on routine patrol in the city's 12th Precinct.

"At that point, to avoid being struck by gunfire, the officers quickly accelerated eastbound out of the field of fire," the chief said.

"As they approached the intersection they heard several shots fired. As they continued to advance in an eastbound direction, they looked and saw a suspect with that appeared to be an assault-type rifle, a magazine — a large capacity magazine — and began firing shots at the officer," Detroit Police Chief James Craig called told WWJ's Zahra Huber and other reporters.

No one was injured.

Craig said they're looking for the shooter along with two accomplices. The man who allegedly fired the shots is described as a black male wearing a white t-shirt under a black jacket with black pants.

He may be traveling in a older, gray 4-door Chrysler.

As for a motive, Craig said gang violence may have been involved.

"We do know that there is a drug house on this block and there's been a rift between two opposing drug gangs if you will," Craig said. "As of recent, we don't know if the initial volley of fire was targeted at a drug house on this block."

But at that time, Craig said, he's certain the cops were targeted.

"They were in a marked patrol car, in full uniform," he said. "So it's no accident; they knew that these were Detroit police officers...This was an ambush."

A K-9 team lost track of the suspect, but he's still believed to be in the area. Police are now going door-to-door in the area looking for further witnesses.

Craig later a weapon recovered in the neighborhood is believed to have been the one used in the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detroit police or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.