Members of the Michigan State Police Forensic Lab process the scene following a stabbing and shooting at an apartment building in the 22000 block of Park Sept. 27.
By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — Dearborn police shot and killed a man allegedly attacking his girlfriend in their apartment in the 22000 block of Park Sept. 27.
Police responded to the building after dispatch received a series of phone calls from the 39-year-old woman saying she was being assaulted by her boyfriend with a knife.
The calls came in about 6:22 a.m. when the woman said she was stabbed in the face and above the throat. Police Chief Ronald Haddad said information was corroborated by initial witnesses at the scene and responding officers who heard the women calling for help.
During a press conference following the incident, Haddad also said 43-year-old man was shot and killed by police. James Lucachevitz was later identified as the deceased man.
“Officers made the appropriate determination that a rapid entry had to be made and they forced the door on the apartment, took the man off the woman during which time the man was fatally shot by officers responding,” he said. “The man was armed with a knife.”
First aid was immediately rendered to the woman and man by officers until the fire department’s advance life support arrived at the scene.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene due to multiple gun shot wounds and the woman was transported to a local hospital for stab wounds in the head, face and throat where she was listed in stable but in serious condition.
Names of the man and woman were not revealed because the next of kin of both were being notified at the time of the press conference.
Haddad said the police officer involved is a 15-year veteran of the department, and it is most likely the officer will be placed on administrate leave which is yet to be determined.
When asked about body cameras, Haddad said every officer is equipped with them.
Police were called to the same apartment building about 10 p.m. Sept. 26 on a report of people feeling threatened in the hallway by the same man.
When officers responded, the man had left the scene and could not be located after a search around the area was conducted. Haddad said the man was an on-and-off resident at the apartment building.
“The man was wanted for multiple felonies at this time as well as parole absconder,” he said. “I can also tell you, unfortunately, we’ve made multiple, countless runs to that apartment buildings on domestic violence calls.”
The Michigan State Police Second District Investigation Section was contacted to handle the investigation, but Haddad said an internal investigation will be done by the Dearborn Police Department simultaneously.
Members of the MSP Forensic Lab arrived to the scene for processing and detectives worked to complete their on-scene canvass. The investigation is ongoing.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])