By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — James Lukasiewicz, the 43-year-old who was shot and killed by police after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in their apartment, was wanted for multiple felonies and was a parole absconder at the time. His record revealed 10 felonies dating back to 2002.
According to the Michigan Department of Corrections website, Lukasiewicz absconded from Oakland County parole Sep. 23 and a warrant went out for his arrest.
He had 10 felony charges on his record including two from January 2015 for a third degree home invasion and assaulting, resisting or obstructing an officer, both in Livingston County.
Lukasiewicz was sentenced in September 2015 and was granted a two-year parole in November 2019, the MDOC says as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
His criminal record goes back to 2002 and he also has active prison sentences for larceny in a building in Livingston County from 2014, first degree home invasion in Wayne County from 2006, and possession of a controlled substance for cocaine in Wayne County from 2004.
The shooting took place Sept. 27 when police responded to an apartment building in the 22000 block of Park 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. Lukasiewicz 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.
Lukasiewicz was pronounced dead at the scene due from 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. No further updates have been provided.
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. The name of the officer has not been released.
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 Lukasiewicz.
When officers responded, he had left the scene and could not be located after a search around the area was conducted.
Haddad said Lukasiewicz was an on-and-off resident at the apartment building.
“I can also tell you, unfortunately, we’ve made multiple, countless runs to that apartment buildings on domestic violence calls,” he said.
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.
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])