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Detroit Free Press
Omar Abdel-Baqui
A sniper on the Detroit Police Department Special Response Team fired a single shot as the gunman became increasingly violent and posed a serious threat to the hostage’s life, Craig said.
The gunman died at the hospital an hour later, according to police. The hostage survived with no serious injuries.
The incident stemmed from a mental health crisis the gunman suffered after not taking his medication for 48 hours, police said. He suffered from bipolar disorder and has a violent history.
Friday’s barricaded gunman situation is the 28th this year, Craig said Saturday. Half of those gunmen suffered from mental illness, he said.
Craig said he believes in increasing funding to mental health services but that funding to police should not be cut. He said he also believes social workers should work in conjunction with police in dealing with mentally ill subjects.
Friday’s standoff lasted about nine hours. A number of negotiators worked to try to get the gunman to surrender, and the gunman’s mother pleaded with him on local television news to exit the home on the 18600 block of Concord Street.
Police officials said the gunman repeatedly pulled the hostage and pointed a gun at her back.
“This situation was becoming increasingly grave. He was exhibiting erratic behavior and showing signs of increased aggression,” Craig said of the gunman.
The hostage repeatedly said she believed she was going to die and gave multiple cries for help, Craig said.
“In her mind, death was imminent,” DPD Commander Darin Szilagy said Saturday. “She was tortured throughout the evening by this man.”
In September, a barricaded gunman in Detroit shot himself after he ran out of drugs and came off a narcotic high. He claimed responsibility for killing three people earlier in the year and had taken two hostages — he released one hostage and the other escaped.
That standoff lasted 30 hours and involved 150 police officers.
Contact Omar Abdel-Baqui: oabdelbaqui@freepress.com or 313-236-6677. Follow him on Twitter @omarabdelb.