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DETROIT – A Detroit police officer has been shot and killed and four others wounded at an abandoned house in the 20,000 block of Schoenherr Road near 8 Mile Road in Detroit.
The shooting happened on the city's east side at about 4 a.m.
Police Chief Warren Evans said several officers were responding to a call of shots fired when they approached the home.
Evans said when officers arrived at the home, they were met with gunfire.
Five officers were shot.
The officer who died had been on the force for 12 years. He leaves behind a wife and 10-year-old son.
The wounded officers were taken to St. John Hospital for treatment; they are believed to have minor injuries.
Sources told Local 4 the gunman was also shot and taken to the hospital.
He was shot in the lower back.
A .45-caliber handgun, believed to be the gunman's weapon, was recovered.
"It was the worst feeling I've had since I've been in this position and immediately I wanted to get here to be as supportive as I could be," Mayor Dave Bing said outside the hospital. "But also to let our police officers know that the leadership in this city is behind them."
Chief Evans said he spoke to the officers and their families, although he said there was little comfort he could provide.
"What can you say? You're there for them and let them talk," Evans said. "Every emotion in the world comes out: anger, hurt, frustration — all of them are worried about the guy in the next bed, which was their partner."
"These guys in there aren't worried about themselves," Evans said. "They're worrying about their brother officers. I've been doing this almost 40 years. This is not the first time but I was hoping (before) was the last time that we'd be in this situation."
The last deadly shooting involving on-duty Detroit police officers happened in February 2004.
Officers Jennifer Fettig and Matthew Bowens were shot and killed during a traffic stop. Eric Lee Marshall was found guilty of those murders and is currently serving a life sentence.
Stay with Local 4 and ClickonDetroit.com for more information as this story develops.
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