MONROE, Mich. – Two Monroe police officers are expected to be OK after they were shot while responding to an assault call at an apartment complex Tuesday morning.
UPDATE: Man named Simba Lion suspected in shootout
Police said the department received a call at 9 a.m. from a vendor who was doing work at the Washington Arms apartment complex at 725 Washington Street near South Monroe and East Sixth streets.
The vendor told police he had been approached by a 40-year-old tenant who had a handgun in a holster. Monroe police Chief Charles McCormick said the tenant and the vendor were involved in a physical assault of some kind.
Michigan State Police Lt. Brian Oleksyk said the vendor was trying to do work in one of the buildings at the complex when the tenant had contact with him, sparking an argument.
“There were shots fired, first by the suspect, striking two officers,” Oleksyk said.
The two officers were shot in the legs. Officers returned fire.
“There were two officers who originally responded first, and then sometime during that, another two responded," Oleksyk said. "It’s unclear, out of the four, how many of the four officers returned fire to the suspect.”
The officers were taken to Promedica Hospital, Oleksyk said. One has been treated and released, and the other is expected to be released soon, McCormick said.
“It’s tough,” McCormick said. “It’s a call you never want to get. Thankfully, they’re all going home.”
Officials took the tenant to St. Vincent Medical Center in Toledo. His condition is unclear, but Oleksyk said he required surgery.
One of the injured officers is a supervisor and has been with the department for 17 years, McCormick said. The other officer has been with the department for three or four years, he said.
Their names are not being released at this time.
Monroe police have turned the investigation over to Michigan State Police.
Here’s the full update from McCormick:
Here’s the full update from Oleksyk: