DETROIT, MI — A routine traffic stop outside a McDonald’s on 7 Mile and Gratiot Tuesday night quickly escalated into a violent confrontation, leaving an 18-year-old man hospitalized in critical condition.
According to Detroit Police, officers were conducting increased traffic enforcement along Gratiot Avenue when they stopped a Chevrolet Malibu in the drive-thru line for an obscured license plate.
Inside the vehicle were two women in the front seats and an 18-year-old male in the back. The driver, cooperating with officers, consented to a vehicle search. But as officers moved to remove the male passenger, the situation spiraled out of control.
Police say the man became combative and resisted arrest, prompting officers to deploy a Taser — but before they could subdue him, he broke free and bolted from the car. Moments later, the fleeing suspect reportedly pulled a handgun, forcing officers to react.
One officer fired a single shot, striking the man in the upper body. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Police confirmed that a firearm was recovered at the scene. No officers or civilians were injured in the incident.
Detroit Police Chief James White stated that the department’s Force Investigation Unit and Internal Affairs are reviewing the incident, and bodycam footage will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
“This was a dangerous situation that unfolded in seconds,” White said. “Our officers are trained to protect themselves and the public when faced with an armed threat.”
The scene outside the McDonald’s was cordoned off for several hours as detectives processed evidence and interviewed witnesses.
Authorities are urging anyone with video or information about the incident to contact the Detroit Police Department or Crime Stoppers.