1 Detroit officer killed, 4 wounded in shooting

[May 03, 2010]  DETROIT (AP) -- Police responding to a 911 call at a vacant house in Detroit were met with heavy gunfire early Monday that killed one officer and wounded four others, authorities said.

All five officers and one suspect, who remains in custody, were taken to a hospital, said Police Chief Warren Evans. The officers were in temporary serious condition. No information was available about the suspect.

Evans said officers responded to the tan, brick two-story bungalow about 3:30 a.m. after a next-door neighbor reported hearing gunshots. The officers positioned themselves at the front and rear entrances of the building, police spokesman John Roach said. He said officers at the front of the house were met with heavy gunfire.

The officer who was killed, who had been on the job at least 12 years and had a 10-year-old son, was shot inside the home and struck multiple times, Roach said.

"It's a tough time for all of us," said Evans. "We're all kind of in a state of shock."

He and Mayor Dave Bing visited the slain officer's widow at St. John's Hospital in Detroit, where officers exchanged hugs with some of the dozens of people who had gathered outside an emergency room entrance awaiting word on the injured.

"It was the worst feeling I've had since I've been in this position," Bing said. "Our community needs to stand up."

Police say a .45-caliber handgun and 1 pound of marijuana were recovered at the house.

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Associated Press writer David Aguilar contributed to this report.

[Associated Press; By JEFF KAROUB and DAVID RUNK]

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