DETROIT – Raymond Durham is the man accused of shooting two Detroit police officers Wednesday night on the city's west side.
His niece, Temicko Durham, said the 60-year-old man suffers from schizophrenia and she had no idea he had a gun.
"He has a mental illness and he's homeless," she said. "I didn't even know he had a gun. You know, this is my first time hearing he had a gun on him."
Detroit police chief: Man 'aggressively' tried to kill officers in shooting Wednesday night
The shooting happened near Ash and Tillman. Two officers from the 3rd Precinct Special Ops team had been working in the area investigating reports of narcotics and violent crimes.
"They had been working in the area, along with Wayne State (police), certainly working on the Collin Rose (murder), but also dealing with other issues -- the complaints that they've had in that area," said Detroit Police Chief James Craig.
Detroit police sources said Thursday morning the officers were not investigating Rose's murder.
UPDATE: Detroit police sources: 2 officers shot were not investigating Sgt. Collin Rose murder
Here is Craig's update from Wednesday night:
The officers -- a 20-year veteran and a 4-year veteran -- approached Durham because he was acting "fidgety," police said. He gave them his ID, but then pulled out a gun and started shooting, police said. One officer was shot in the ankle and the upper torso. They believe his protective gear saved his life. The other officer was shot in the neck.
Chief Craig is cautiously optimistic about their recovery.
"Until you're walking out of here (the hospital) ... and then I'm more optimistic," he said.
Dozens and dozens of officers from several agencies, along with helicopters, were searching for Durham. After a 2 and 1/2 hour manhunt, tips led officers to a field where Durham was hiding in weeds with a gun in his waistband. He was just a few blocks from where the shooting happened. He was arrested and did not put up a fight.
You can see an image of the scene where Durham was arrested below.
These are the weeds where police found Durham hiding:
Durham was shot in the leg by one of the officers he shot. He also is being treated for his injuries.
Chief Craig is optimistic, be he has reason to be cautious. Just this past September Cpt. Kenneth Steil was injured in the line of duty and treated at the hospital. Steil was expected to be sent home, but then died from a blood cot on the day he was to be discharged.
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