‘It was kind of like—here?’: Quiet community shaken after police shooting, manhunt in Southgate

Jeremiah Kemp was taken into custody after law enforcement teams found him in a nearby apartment

SOUTHGATE, Mich. – A 20-year-old suspect now faces potential felony assault charges after allegedly shooting two Southgate police officers Thursday night, triggering a massive manhunt that put neighborhoods on lockdown for more than four hours.

Jeremiah Kemp was taken into custody after local, state, and federal law enforcement teams found him in a nearby apartment following an extensive search around the Village at the Park Apartments.

The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office will now review the case to determine whether to file formal charges against Kemp, who has a history of prior arrests.

As law enforcement combed through surrounding neighborhoods, neighbors remained in their homes, sheltering in place for hours.

“I get a call, ‘Hey, make sure your doors are locked. There’s a guy on the loose,’” said Danielle Williams, who lives near the shooting scene. “There’s a lot of little kids around here. A lot of people might have had their windows open. He could have gotten into anybody’s house.”

Court records show Kemp’s previous encounters with law enforcement, including arrests for misdemeanor assault in 2021, misdemeanor burglary and obstruction of police in 2024, and misdemeanor retail fraud in March of this year.

The shooting rattled residents in what they describe as a typically quiet community.

“It was kind of like - here? In Southgate?” said Joe Millner, a nearby resident. “We were surprised, because in nine years this is the first time anything like that ever happened.”

Kemp will appear in court for an arraignment once charges are filed.

The injured officers were released from the hospital Thursday night and are recovering at home.