By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
HEIGHTS — A 38-year-old Redford man was shot and killed by Dearborn Heights police May 13 in the parking lot of BoneYard BBQ, 7010 Telegraph Road.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Officer identified the man as James Collins Jr. and said his cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.
Michigan State Police First Lt. Michael Shaw said Dearborn Heights police initially received a call about 3:30 a.m. of a distraught woman walking at the intersection of Telegraph Road and Warren Avenue.
“As the officers were out here responding, attempting to locate that female, one of the officers observed a white male that was walking down Telegraph Road, armed with a long gun, a rifle,” Shaw said. “As the officer made contact with the individual, there were some words exchanged back and forth, and the officer fired shots at the suspect, hitting him and killing him.”
The police officer has worked with the department for five years and is on administrative leave as the investigation is completed.
Calls to the Dearborn Heights Police Department for comment were referred to MSP.
The DHPD contacted the MSP Special Investigation Section to assume the investigation.
MSP collected evidence from the scene, including the suspected loaded rifle and surveillance footage. No officers or any other people were injured.
Shaw said the reported distraught woman was not located by police, but that she was seen in the area on security footage collected by police.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])