DETROIT (WXYZ) — The suspect in the murder of a Detroit police officer on Thursday is connected to at least three other shootings in the city over the past couple of weeks.
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Detroit Police Chief James Craig said the suspect, who is still recovering from his injuries, was on active parole at the time of the shooting. His parole has been revoked, but is in custody on a parole violation.
According to Craig, he is a person of interest in the shooting on Monday of two people, one of whom was killed. Craig also said they believe he was connected to another double shooting on Sunday in Detroit and a shooting at the same home two weeks ago.
In all, Craig said they believe he is connected to at least six victims, calling him "a very dangerous person."
Police say the suspect was not arrested in any incidents, calling one investigation "lackluster," saying he launched an internal investigation into the original investigation.
"We're not talking about an auto theft, we're talking about a shooting into an inhabited dwelling," Craig said. "I'm very angry. I'm not even going to use the word troubled.
"Some people are going to be held accountable," he added.
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, police may not submit a warrant request for the 28-year-old suspect in the DPD officer's murder until next week.
The prosecutor's office did say they have submitted a murder warrant request for the same suspect in the shooting on Monday that killed a 31-year-old man and injured a second man. It is currently being reviewed and a charging decision is not expected Friday.
Detroit Police Officer Rasheen McClain, 46, was shot and killed on Wednesday night. He was a 16-year veteran of the force, and was one of two officers shot.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig said that McClain was a natural leader.
When McClain and his partner arrived at the scene, Craig said McClain requested additional backup. Two more officers arrived and they entered the home through the front door. The officers cleared the upper level and main level of the home and then began to move down into the basement to locate the suspect.
Per bodycam video, Craig said the suspect came in from the left and fired quickly twice, striking McClain and his partner, Phillippe Batoum-Bisse.
"It was clear he had some type of tactical training," Craig said.
As the suspect fled from the residence, he encountered more officers and several shots were fired. One of the officers struck the suspect, who then ran around the block, was apprehended and then taken into custody.
Craig says the suspect's weapon, pictured below, was advanced, and that the suspect was trained and skilled to use this type of weapon.
"It was very clear this suspect was trying to bait the officers and had a presence of mind," Craig said. "He wanted suicide by cop."
The 28-year-old suspect was on parole at the time of the shooting.
"I'm always struck by the fact that we seem to lose the best of our officers in these tragedies," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "The city of Detroit is lucky to have the finest police force in America and the whole city mourns one of our heroes."
Craig said that two weeks prior, the location had been shot at, presumably by the suspect. Police believe that a relative of the suspect's estranged girlfriend would not let him inside the home, so he allegedly opened fire on it.
Batoum-Bisse is currently at the hospital, Craig said. He is in temporary serious condition. He is a military veteran with two and a half years on the force.
McClain is survived by his wife of 10 years and two stepchildren.
