4 Dead After Standoff With Detroit Police

DETROIT, MI – Four people are dead and three police officers were wounded after a gunman holed himself up in what turned out to be a 14-hour standoff with police that began late Sunday and continued through Monday morning. Police say the gunman, a 49-year-old man, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The gunman, identified by police as Lance Smith, 49, barricaded himself in a home in the 19400-block of Lamont Street last Sunday. He had told officers during verbal exchanges that he "would not go down without a fight." By early afternoon, he was dead.

Police responded to a report of gunshots at 10:27 p.m. Sunday, and arrived at the scene. In a media briefing Monday morning, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said that an off-duty officer, who lives nearby, was among the first responders and was wounded by Smith.

Two other officers also were wounded by Smith. Several officers also were pinned down by the gunman until a police tactical unit arrived. During the standoff, police did not fire any rounds, but did deploy three rounds of gas to try to force Smith to come out.

Of the victims, two women were shot late Sunday and died of their wounds. A man, age 54, also was wounded, but not seriously. A third victim, identified as Smith's girlfriend, was found dead by police after the standoff concluded, said Detroit Deputy Police Chief Elvin Barren during a police briefing Monday afternoon.

Barren said the incident stemmed from a domestic incident. Despite earlier reports that Smith suffered of mental illness, Barren said those reports may not have been true.

At one point during the morning standoff, police took into custody a man initially thought to be a second gunman. Craig, however, said the man was not involved in the shooting and will be freed.

An earlier report from Detroit Police:

Image via Detroit Police