DETROIT (WXYZ) — A man was shot and killed by Detroit police after they said he fired shots at officers near a park as kids were playing little league football on Tuesday.
It happened around 7:10 p.m. on the city's east side at Balduck Park near Chandler Park Drive and Canyon Street.
Hear information from police in the video player below:
Officers were on routine patrol in the area when they noticed a man they knew "from a previous narcotics deal," Assistant Police Chief Charles Fitzgerald said. Officers then put his name into the the state's Law Enforcement Information Network system, or LEIN, and they found that he had a parole violation.
The officers parked their vehicle and when they approached the man, police said he pulled a gun out from his waistband and fired at an officer. The officer returned fire and the man died at the scene.
The officer thought he was shot and was taken to the hospital, where it was found he was not injured. The patrol car sustained some damage from the gunfire, which Fitzgerald said could be why the officer thought he was shot.
Video: Aerial video of the crime scene
No other injuries were reported.
The man killed had "a lengthy criminal history," Fitzgerald said.
"Just very, very fortunate. This is a horribly dangerous situation," Fitzgerald said. "I'm just very, very thankful that no one else was injured."
Families were at the park enjoying little league football at the time. They have since left and police remained at the scene late Tuesday night.
The officer who returned fire is on administrative leave as the investigation continues.
