The 18-year-old shot by police prior to the 2026 Ford Fireworks is expected to survive, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said Tuesday, June 23.
The shooting happened during the arrest of a 19-year-old who police said had a weapon. The 18-year-old, who police believe was armed as well, was struck several times during a foot chase by officers near Farmer and Bates streets by Cadillac Square.
Police said the officer fired his gun after fearing for his safety at some point during the case, but it’s still not clear what exactly prompted that fear. Police also haven’t said where exactly the teen was shot on his body.
Witnesses recalled seeing police officers chase after him; one witness said he feared for the teen, followed the chase, and saw him lying face down on the ground after he’d been shot.
A weapon was recovered on the scene. It’s an ongoing investigation, Bettison said Tuesday following a presentation to council, declining to comment further on the details of the incident. The person remains in serious condition, he said.
Officers were stationed downtown during the fireworks celebration prepared to crack down on not just criminal activity but curfew violations as well.
About 180 minors were detained during the 2026 Ford Fireworks, according to preliminary estimates from Bettison. The Detroit Free Press is working to get final confirmation of the number of curfew violation and parental responsibility tickets issued, as well as number of arrests.
Bettison said the curfew — which was set earlier at 8 p.m. for unaccompanied youths — worked and the event was “one of the more peaceful fireworks.”
Just minutes after 8 p.m., police began checking the IDs of groups of young people downtown. Those who were 17 and under without a parent or guardian had their hands zip-tied behind their backs by police, were marched inside police barriers, and were put on city buses.
Police said the teens were held at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center until their parent or guardian picked them up — where they also received a parental responsibility ticket for a minor violating curfew. That’s a $250 fine for a first offense and $500 for a second.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Chief: Teen shot by Detroit police expected to survive
Reporting by Andrea May Sahouri and Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Andrea May Sahouri and Nushrat Rahman, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
