Update: Monday, Jan. 6 at 3:30 p.m.
Detroit police confirm to 7 News Detroit that the suspect wanted in the deadly hit-and-run that killed 32-year-old Cameron Richardson was arrested.
Original story below
A Detroit police officer was killed earlier this weekend in a car crash, the department confirmed.
The department said that 32-year-old Cameron Richardson was off duty when the crash happened. In a press conference held Sunday afternoon, Interim Chief Todd Bettison said that Richardson was heading northbound on Hoover after his shift at the ninth precinct. At the intersection of Hoover and Greiner, Richardson's vehicle was struck by the driver of a white van attempting to make left turn.
"This is definitely a tragic day for the department," Bettison said.
Bettison later mentioned that the 911 call was received shortly after midnight early Sunday morning. Officers responding to the scene found Richardson's body, with Bettison saying that the officer "didn't suffer."
Michigan State Police troopers assisting in the investigation found the white van a short distance away from the crash, with a gun found in the vehicle. After executing two search warrants, two people in the van at the time of the hit-and-run crash have been taken into custody. The driver of the van, a 28-year-old man whose identity was not revealed by Bettison, is considered a person of interest.
Related: Detroit police hold press conference after death of officer:
"He hasn't turned himself in, we will have him shortly," Bettison said. "He is in close contact with the suspect's family and we believe he will turn himself in."
Bettison said Richardson had been on the force just over a year after serving in the military, and leaves behind two daughters.
"We will never forget him," Bettison said. "He has two daughters and we are going to wrap our hands totally around this family right here."
Watch our full interview with Richardson's parents below:
Richardson's parents opted not to speak at the press conference, but did talk to 7 News Reporter Faraz Javed ahead of the press conference.
"(He was) quiet, loving, funny," said John Harris, Richardson's father. "He just did 10 years in the United States Army, where he was stationed in Seattle. He retired after doing 10 years of service...his goal was to be a police officer. He's got two daughters that he loved dearly and they wanted him here."
Richardson's parents said the daughters are 12 and 14 years old.
"I had just talked to him around the same time," Mona, Richardson's mother, said. "We said we loved each other at the end, that was the most important to me, but he was telling me he would be going on vacation to Brazil next month.
Both John and Mona said that Richardson was a great dad.
"He sacrificed so much for his kids," Harris said. "As he was growing, we never had any problems with him, never got into trouble, was always quiet, very respectful."
"The way he wears the uniform, whether it was serving his country, serving the men and women, serving the citizens of this fine city, I would say a humble servant," Bettison said. "He was just a servant. He served, he wanted to be a Detroit Police Officer."
A GoFundMe has been set up to help with his kids' education. To donate, click here.
