Detroit police shot an 18-year-old male downtown ahead of the 2026 Ford Fireworks on Monday, June 22.
The teen was listed in serious condition, police said as of 10 p.m. The shooting happened around 6:24 p.m. after the arrest of another person, 19, who police said was armed with a weapon, near Farmer and Bates streets by Cadillac Square.
During the arrest, another person began walking away from the group with his hands tucked in a way that gave officers reason to believe that individual was armed as well, said Detroit police spokesperson Jasmin Barmore.
Officers pursued the person on foot, Barmore said. At some point during the pursuit an officer, fearing for his life and for the safety of the public, fired shots at the person, she said. It was not immediately clear what made the officer fear for his life. The teen was struck several times, and a weapon was recovered at the scene.
At this time there is no threat to the public, Barmore said.
A man who lives in Cadillac Square Apartments was outside his building and saw the teen running and chased by police, he told the Free Press. He did not want to be named for fear he would be targeted.
He followed them, he said, and was scared for the teen. By the time he rounded the corner on Bates, the man heard gunfire. Then he said he saw him lying face down on the ground.
“My fear was for the guy running. I knew it was going to end badly,” he said.
Milton and Serena Howze also live in Cadillac Square Apartments. They said they saw police running outside from their 6th-floor window — one officer had his gun out.
And when they heard gunfire, they said at first they were confused — they were watching a Tubi movie, and in that moment a character from the movie pulled out a gun. They quickly realized the gunfire wasn’t from their TV but from outside.
“It was crazy,” said Milton Howze, 66.
Serena Howze, 67, was bewildered that teenagers had the guts to bring guns when there were truckloads of officers parked right in Cadillac Square.
“They don’t care about the police being out,” she said.
During last years’ fireworks celebration, two people were shot and injured down the street from Cadillac Square, near Randolph and Larned. A 17-year-old had been fighting with the shooter, 19, over $200 and was struck several times in the leg; a 22-year-old female bystander was shot in the hand.
This is a developing story.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Police shoot teen in downtown Detroit ahead of fireworks show
Reporting by Andrea May Sahouri and John Wisely, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Andrea May Sahouri and John Wisely, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
