Detroit - A gunman has opened fire inside a Detroit police station, wounding four officers including a commander before police shot and killed him.
Police chief Ralph Godbee said along with the commander, two sergeants and an officer were wounded, but none appeared to have life-threatening injuries.
Sergeant Todd Eby said he was sitting at his desk at the station when the gunman walked in about 4.20pm local time on Sunday with a pistol-grip shotgun and opened fire. He said officers shot back at the gunman, killing him.
The chief said the gunman has been identified but it was “too early to characterise” him on Sunday evening while the investigation was ongoing.
The commander, who was shot in the back, was the most seriously wounded. Godbee said he underwent surgery on Sunday evening and his prognosis was “very good”. A sergeant and an officer who each suffered graze gunshot wounds to the head were both talking and alert, Godbee said.
A female sergeant also was treated and released after her bullet-resistant vest deflected a bullet to the chest, Godbee said.
Police also did not immediately release the names of the wounded officers, saying families had not been notified in all cases.
While the department was “very sobered” by the shootings, Godbee said he was “just very relieved that it appears all of our officers are going to be OK”.
The station is located along a main street in what is predominantly the business district of the neighbourhood on the northwest side of the city. After the shooting, city and state police squad cars converged on the scene, and an ambulance was seen taking away at least one victim. - Sapa-AP