DETROIT – An armed man sought by police in connection with a string of crimes in St. Clair County is dead after a barricade situation at a home in Southwest Detroit, police said.
Police surrounded a home on Liddesdale Street, where David White, 54, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said White allegedly kidnapped his 86-year-old neighbor Friday and forced her to drive him to Detroit before he fled from the vehicle.
Residents said they were trying to figure out what was going on and were told to stay in their houses.
"Didn't expect this excitement this morning," Martel Peguese said.
Peguese's mother lives directly across the street from where all of the police activity was taking place Saturday morning, so they were told by police to go to the basement for safety.
"Secure the area and just pray for the best, but that's not what you want for your parents when they get older," Peguese said. "You want to make sure they're safe."
The episode started around 5 a.m. Saturday.
"David White, wanted out of St. Clair County for armed robbery and kidnapping. He rented a room in Detroit and the landlord watching Channel 4 story realized she rented a room to Mr. White," Cmdr. Elvin Barren said.
Barren said the landlord called 911.
"Units from 4th Precinct responded, made entry into the location, confronted Mr. White, he stated he had a gun to his head and one shot was fired," Barren said.
At that time, a barricaded gunman situation was underway.
"Officers have to think that out. It's a possibility he may have shot himself or he may have been shooting at the officers," Barren said. "It's a possibility he could be baiting the officers in."
After calling his phone repeatedly and trying to negotiate with White over the megaphone with no response, officers went inside of the house again and found White dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police said it could have been a different outcome if the landlord hadn't contacted them.
"This ended in a death of Mr. White, but for the community as a whole, the landlord getting out of this and alerting authorities, being able to contain Mr. White and bringing this to a resolution," Barren said.
Community members agree.
"We have kids that live right down the street, across the street, so you just want to make sure everyone is safe," Peguese said.
White wanted in connection with several crimes
The St. Clair County Sheriff's Office had asked for the public's help in finding White in connection with the home invasion, armed robbery and kidnapping that happened Friday in Brockway Township.
White had been staying with his father in the 10000 block of Wilkes Road, Sheriff Tim Donnellon said.
The father went to a store around 4 p.m. When he returned home, he discovered White was gone, along with a handgun that was in the house, the Sheriff's Office said.
Deputies were called to the home around 7 p.m., originally because it was believed White was suicidal. The Sheriff's Office said that when deputies arrived, the father said a neighbor had called and said she had taken White to Detroit.
Deputies spoke with the 86-year-old woman, who said White had come to her door shortly after 4 p.m. asking for help. The Sheriff's Office said when the woman let him in, he allegedly pointed a handgun at her and told her he needed money and a ride.
The woman was forced to drive White to the French Road area of Detroit near City Airport, police said. White allegedly purchased some drugs, believed to be heroin, once he was there.
The woman began heading back toward St. Clair County. The Sheriff's Office said White told the woman to pull over in the area of Gratiot Avenue and 14 Mile Road, where he got out.
The woman drove back to her home before calling White's father, the Sheriff's Office said. She did not directly contact the sheriff's office.
White was also in possession of a Ruger 9mm handgun, the Sheriff's Office said.
While White was sought for home invasion, armed robbery and kidnapping in St. Clair County, the Sheriff's Office said he was also suspected in Macomb County for another offense.