DETROIT (AP) - Officers fatally shot a 42-year-old man who was allegedly holding a woman hostage at gunpoint, according to Detroit police.
Chief James Craig said at a Saturday news conference that the woman was the man’s girlfriend and had told a hostage negotiator that she believed her life was in danger. Police said a sniper fired a single shot wounding the man, which allowed the woman to flee. She was unharmed.
The man later died at a hospital.
Police were called to the home on Detroit’s east side on Friday afternoon. Craig said the man suffered from bipolar disorder and had not been taking his medication.
Detroit police have responded to nearly 30 barricaded gun situations this year. Craig said at least half have involved someone with mental illness and called for more effort to address treatment.
“This has been an ongoing conversation,” he said. “It’s broken everywhere. What are we waiting on, another tragedy to happen? When there is a tragedy, we talk about it for maybe two weeks and then we go on with our lives. Enough is enough.”
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