LIVE DOWNTOWN DETROIT. LOCAL 4 NEWS AT FIVE STARTS NOW. JUST HOURS AFTER HE INFORMED THE
POLICE OFFICER’S WIFE THAT HER
HUSBAND WAS NEVER COMING HOME.
FRUSTRATION BUBBLED OVER FOR THE
CHIEF OF THE DETROIT POLICE
DEPARTMENT. THIS IS
UNACCEPTABLE. AND THIS SHOULD BE
THE LINE. WHATEVER YOU’RE
TIPPING POINT IS, THIS SHOULD BE
IT. SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE ON
OUR STREETS TAKES THE LIFE OF A
HERO WITH A FAMILY LEGACY OF
SERVICE TO OUR CITY, AND THE
CHIEF HAS HAD ENOUGH. OPPOSITE
LAUREN COURTS WAS A DEVOTED
DETROIT POLICE OFFICER WITH FIVE
YEARS ON THE FORCE. BUT IF YOU
ASK HIS WIFE, CHRISTINE, HE WAS
AN EVEN BETTER HUSBAND FOR THE
PAST 11 YEARS, BUT EVEN MORE
THAN THAT WAS HIS JOB AS A
FATHER TO HIS TWO BELOVED
CHILDREN. OFFICER COURTS WAS
GUNNED DOWN LAST NIGHT,
RESPONDING TO A CALL OF SHOTS
FIRED. HE WAS 40 YEARS OLD PAIN
AND HEARTBREAK. TODAY COURTS
WIDOW, CHRISTINE SHARED HER
EMOTIONS WITHOUT NICK MONACELLI
TELLING US THIS HE WAS VERY
LOYAL TO DPD. IT WAS HIS PASSION
. SHE WENT ON TO SAY HE LOVED
BEING A POLICE OFFICER, BUT HE
ALSO LOVED BEING A DAD. HE WOULD
TELL YOU THAT WAS HIS GREATEST
ACCOMPLISHMENT. BEING A DAD.
COURT SET OF 15 YEAR OLD SON AND
A NINE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. LAST
NIGHT, HE AND HIS PARTNER
RESPONDED TO A CALL OF SHOTS
FIRED ON DETROIT’S WEST SIDE
WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED A 19 YEAR
OLD WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE.
COURTS WAS SHOT MOMENTS AFTER HE
ARRIVED ON SCENE AND HIS WIFE
WAS TOLD IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY
, HE LIKELY DID NOT SUFFER. GOT
SEVERAL REPORTERS COVERING THIS
STORY TONIGHT. PAULA TUTMAN
SPOKE WITH A GROUP OF OFFICERS
NOW FORCED TO PLAN HIS FUNERAL.
KAREN DREW IS UNCOVERING NEW
INFORMATION ON THE ACCUSED
SHOOTER, BUT WE BEGIN WITH ROD
MELONI. HE’S LIVE TONIGHT AT JOY
ROAD AND MARLO WHEN THIS ALL
HAPPENED, RIGHT? YES AND RIGHT
BEHIND ME. KIMBERLY IS THE
BUILDING WHERE IT HAPPENED IN
THE SHOOTING STARTED IN THE
WINDOWS THAT YOU SEE ARE BROKEN
OUT SHOTS COMING FROM INSIDE,
GOING OUT, AND THAT’S HOW
OFFICER COURTS WAS SHOT. BUT
THEN LATER IT ALL MOVED
DOWNSTAIRS. THE DETROIT POLICE
DEPARTMENT HAS LOST SIX OFFICERS
IN FIVE YEARS IN THE LINE OF
DUTY CHIEF WHITE LOOKING FOR
SOME HELP FROM LAWMAKERS,
PROSECUTORS AND JUDGES. WE NEED
THE COURTS. WE NEED THE
LAWMAKERS TO STEP UP. IT’S
GETTING A LITTLE BIT OLD HEARING
ABOUT WHAT EVERYONE’S GOING TO
DO. IT’S TIME TO DO IT. HERE IS
WHAT HAPPENED. 7 30 LAST NIGHT
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS ROLLED AS A
GREAT DODGE CARAVAN DRIVES EAST
ON JOY IN FRONT OF THE DESIRE
SALON. LOOK AT THE WINDOW IN THE
TOP LEFT, YOU’LL SEE PUFFS OF
SMOKE AS THE GUNMAN FIRED ON
THAT VAN AND THEN A MUZZLE FLASH
THE SHOTS HITTING THE GROUND
BEHIND THE VAN DRIVES AWAY. THIS
IS WHAT BROUGHT OFFICERS TO THE
SCENE. ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER
, AS OFFICERS ARRIVED, THE
GUNMAN FIRED OUT THE WINDOW
HITTING OFFICER COURTS, AS HE
SAID IN HIS SCOUT, CAR OFFICERS
QUICKLY STARTED CONVERGING ON
THE SCENE. AND WHEN THE MAN WITH
THE GUN CAME DOWN THE STAIRS
ONTO THE STREET, THEY SHOT HIM
BEFORE HE COULD SHOOT AT ANOTHER
OFFICER, CHIEF WHITE, SAYING
OFFICER COURTS PARTNER AMANDA
HUTCHINS. NEARLY DIED TRYING TO
SAVE HIS LIFE. SHE MAKES THE
DECISION. TO GIVE HER PARTNER A
CHANCE TO LIVE, KEEPING HER BACK
TO THE ASSAILANT. I’VE NEVER
SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS
AFTERNOON. ONE NEIGHBOR BROUGHT
BALLOONS STARTING A MEMORIAL FOR
THE FAMILY BECAUSE THEY AIN’T
GONNA SEE THAT MEMBER NO MORE.
THAT WOMAN ALSO SAID THAT THE
DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS
SHORT A VERY GOOD OFFICER, AND
SHE WANTS OFFICERS TO KNOW THAT
THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT HERE WHO
SUPPORT THEM AGAIN. THE FIRE THE
SHOTS BEING FIRED UP THE TOP
HERE. DOWN AND WE’RE TOLD THAT
IT WAS A GUN THAT HAD A BANANA
CLIP WITH A LOT OF ROUNDS, AND
WE BELIEVE THAT A WHOLE LOT OF
ROUNDS WERE FIRED. IN ADDITION
TO THE ONE THAT KILLED OFFICER
COURTS REPORTING LIVE ON THE
WEST SIDE, ROD MELONI LOCAL 4
ALL RIGHT, ROD. WE’RE ALSO
UNCOVERING NEW INFORMATION INTO
THE SHOOTER AND HIS CRIMINAL
PAST 19 YEAR OLD IMANI DAVIS,
AND HE’S HAD OTHER RUN INS WITH
THE LAW. KAREN DREW IS DIGGING
INTO HIS BACKGROUND. SO KAREN,
WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU FOUND? WELL,
IT’S DISTURBING KIM AND DEVIN.
I’VE BEEN ABLE TO DIG UP SOME
VERY DISTURBING INFORMATION ON
THE 19 YEAR OLD. IT DEALS AGAIN
WITH WEAPONS. I’VE UNCOVERED TWO
INCIDENTS IN EAST POINT. LET ME
BRING YOU BACK. IT STARTS IN
JANUARY OF LAST YEAR, HE WAS
CHARGED WITH A WEAPONS OFFENSE
OF IMPROPER POSSESSION IN OR
UPON A MOTOR VEHICLE. SO GET
THIS. HE PLEADS GUILTY. HE GETS
12 MONTHS PROBATION AND AN 800.
I SHOULD SAY IN $15 FINE IF I
CAN CORRECT THAT GRAPHIC $815
FINE, OKAY. THAT’S BACK THEN.
NOW SOURCES TELLING ME DAVIS WAS
ALSO INVOLVED IN A SITUATION
JUNE 9TH AND EAST POINT SO JUST
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, HE WAS
ARRESTED ON WEAPONS CHARGES
AGAIN. STILL TRYING TO DIG
EXACTLY INTO WHAT HAPPENED ON
JUNE 9TH. I CAN TELL YOU A
WARRANT WAS BROUGHT MACOMB
COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE THAT
WAS BROUGHT IN JUNE 21. IT WAS
IN RELATION TO WHAT HAPPENED IN
EAST POINT THEY WERE SEEKING
FOUR COUNTS. RECKLESS USE OF A
WEAPON CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON
, FELONY FIREARM. TAMPERING OF
EVIDENCE. NOW, FROM WHAT I’VE
BEEN ABLE TO UNCOVER SOME OF
THAT EVIDENCE WAS ACTUALLY SENT
TO THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE
CRIME LAB. WE DO KNOW WE’VE
REPORTED ON DELAYS THERE. THEY
WERE WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM
THE CRIME LAB. I DID TALK TO
PETER LUCY TO MACOMB COUNTY
PROSECUTOR LATE THIS AFTERNOON.
HE TOLD ME THE PROTOCOL AND
PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED. THERE
WAS NO DROPPING THE BALL. THE
CEDO THEN WENT ON TO SAY IT
TAKES TIME TO GET A WARRANT
SIGNED. THEY NEED TO GO THROUGH
THE INFORMATION AND THE
EVIDENCE. I ASKED ABOUT THAT
JUNE 9TH. INCIDENT IF AN AK 47
TYPE OF WEAPON WAS USED IN THAT
CASE, HE SAID, NO, I’M STILL
DOING MORE DIGGING. I THINK
THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE TO
REPORT ON THIS. MY SOURCES ARE
SHARING INFORMATION. EVERYONE’S
UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THIS HAS
BEEN HANDLED. I’LL LET YOU KNOW
WHEN I LEARN MORE BACK TO YOU.
OKAY ALRIGHT, KAREN. THANK YOU.
AND AS KAREN SAID TODAY HAS BEEN
A RAW AND EMOTIONAL DAY FOR THE
ENTIRE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE
TIGHT KNIT MEMBERS OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT, AND THAT INCLUDES
THE SELECT GROUP THAT NOW HAS NO
TIME TO GRIEVE THE LOSS OF A
FRIEND. THEY HAVE TO GET BUSY
PLANNING HIS FUNERAL. PAULA
TUTMAN LIVE WITH MORE ON THAT.
AND PAULA. SOME OF THESE FOLKS
NEW COURTS BACK TO WHEN HE GOT
OUT OF THE POLICE ACADEMY. YEAH
ABSOLUTELY. AND YOU SAY THE WORD
COMMUNITY BUT LET’S BREAK DOWN
WHAT THAT MEANS OFFICER COURT
HAD A FAMILY. HE HAD FRIENDS. HE
ALSO HAD A FAMILY. THOSE WERE
BLOOD FAMILY. ALSO FAMILY WHO
WORE BLUE. THOSE WERE HIS FAMILY
MEMBERS. ALSO THE COMMUNITY AS
WELL. BUT LET’S GO BACK. TO HIS
FAMILY IN BLUE BECAUSE TODAY
THEY ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY
HOLDING BACK THEIR TEARS. TO
WALK IN THE SHOES OF A DETROIT
POLICE OFFICER TODAY IS
DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY IF YOU
PERSONALLY KNEW OFFICER LAUREN
COURTS WHO SPENT HIS EARLY DAYS
OUT OF THE ACADEMY IN THE
TACTICAL UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT
COURT. JUST A NICE YOUNG MAN. UM
CAME OUT JUST FULL OF ENERGY
LIKE WE ALL ARE. WE COME OUT THE
ACADEMY AND HE JUST LOVED BEING
THE POLICE. HE LOVED THE IDEA OF
HELPING, YOU KNOW. PEOPLE IT IS
ALSO PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT IF
HE KNEW HIS FATHER, WHO ALSO
SERVED ON THE DETROIT POLICE
DEPARTMENT FORCE. I AM A PRODUCT
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY. MY
MOM RETIRED AS A SERGEANT. SO MY
MOM AND. IS THAT WE ARE VERY
GOOD FRIENDS. IT IS AN
EXCRUCIATING HONOR. WHEN YOU
WORK THE TACTICAL FORCE AND YOU
MEET THESE BRIGHT EYED,
ENTHUSIASTIC, DEDICATED KIDS
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE ACADEMY. AND
THEN WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS
HAPPENS NOW PLANNING HIS
FUNERAL. JUST. DOESN’T SEEM
RIGHT. BURIAL OF A FALLEN POLICE
OFFICER IS DIFFERENT. IT IS
STEEPED IN HIS MUCH TRADITION AS
IT IS GRATITUDE. MY PRIMARY
FUNCTIONS ARE TO MAKE SURE THAT
HE HAS ALL THE PROPER MILITARY
HONORS THAT HE DESERVES. WHEN IT
COMES TO BAGPIPES, DRUMMERS,
GOOGLERS FLYOVERS. UM PRESENTING
FLAGS TO HIS FAMILY, UM, 21 GUN
SALUTE WITH THE HONOR GUARDS.
THE HONOR GUARDS WILL STAND TO
SHOW THEIR HONOR FOR OUR FALLEN
DPD MEMBER. THERE IS NO TIME TO
PROPERLY GRIEVE YET YOU DO.
BECAUSE THE PLANNING BEGINS
IMMEDIATELY. WE’VE DONE A LOT OF
THESE. AND IN MY ALMOST 24 YEARS
WHOLE DEPARTMENT. WE’VE BURIED A
LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN WE. KISS. I
LOVE THE ONES OUR KIDS ARE. MY
MOM CALLED ME EVERY DAY. YOU
KNOW, MY DAD HAD TALKED TO HIM,
YOU KNOW, ALMOST EVERY DAY. THEY
DON’T THINK THAT THAT’S THE LAST
TIME THEY GO TO HEAR FROM ME.
BUT MAKE NO BONES ABOUT IT TODAY
STINGS THROUGH THE BONE AND INTO
THE MARROW FOR EVERY SINGLE
OFFICER. AND SO THE TACTICAL
UNIT WILL WORK WITH THE FAMILY
TO FIND THE TIME DATE AND THE
PLACE BUT UNDERSTAND THIS WHILE
THIS IS THEIR JOB EVERY TIME
THEY PLAN A LINE OF DUTY DEATH
FUNERAL. IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST
TIME FOR THEM. YOU CAN FEEL IT.
YOU CAN FEEL THE PAIN IN THEIR
VOICES. AND SO YOU CAN ONLY
IMAGINE WHAT IT IS FOR BLOOD
FAMILY AS WELL. GUYS BACK TO YOU
EXACTLY. RIGHT. THERE’S CLEARLY
NOTHING ROUTINE ABOUT WHAT
THEY’RE GOING THROUGH. RIGHT,
PAULA? AN OFFICER COURTS. HIS
WIDOW, CHRISTINE, CONVEYED HER
HEARTBREAK TODAY IN A POST TO
FACEBOOK, SHE WRITES, QUOTE. I’M
BROKEN AND I CAN’T BEGIN TO
IMAGINE HOW WE ARE GOING TO LIVE
WITHOUT HIM. MY BABIES NEED HIM
. I NEED HIM. I KEEP THINKING
I’M GOING TO WAKE UP FROM THIS
NIGHTMARE AND HE’S GOING TO COME
HOME. END QUOTE AND A GO FUND ME
ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP TO HELP
COURTS IS FAMILY SO THEY DON’T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY BILLS
AND OTHER COSTS. WE POSTED A
LINK TO THAT ON OUR WEBSITE
CLICKONDETROIT.COM AND OUR
COVERAGE OF THIS STORY IS GOING
TO CONTINUE OVER THE NEXT 90
MINUTES OF NEWS HERE AT 5 30,
DETROIT CHIEF JAMES WHITE WILL
JOIN ME LIVE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
HIS DEPARTMENT IS GOING THROUGH
. AT SIX O’CLOCK YOU’RE GOING TO
HEAR FROM OFFICER COURTS. FATHER
AS WE’VE MENTIONED HE IS A
RETIRED DETROIT POLICE SERGEANT
, ALSO HOW THE DETROIT POLICE
FOUNDATION IS STEPPING IN TO
HELP THE FAMILY IN THE MIDST OF
THIS TRAGEDY. SO A LOT COMING UP
HERE AND OUR COVERAGE CONTINUES
ONLINE AND CLICKONDETROIT.COM
YOU CAN FIND MORE MOVING WORDS
FROM COURTS WIFE AND YOU CAN
FIND THAT LINK RIGHT ON THE
HOMEPAGE. TODAY THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE BATTLE OVER ABORTION RIGHTS
HERE IN MICHIGAN, ONE INVOLVING
THE COURT BATTLE OVER THAT 1931
LAW, THE OTHER A MASSIVE
RESPONSE TO A PETITION DRIVE
AIMING TO DEFEND REPRODUCTIVE
RIGHTS IN OUR STATE. MARK
MCDONALD IS LIVE TONIGHT WITH
WHERE ST THINGS STAND ON THIS,
MARA HI, KIMBERLY AND ADD
ANOTHER ONE INTO THE MIX. LATE
THIS AFTERNOON, THE GOVERNOR
SENDING A LETTER TO THE FEDS
ASKING FOR GUIDANCE AND CLARITY
FOR MICHIGANDERS WHO OPT TO
CROSS THE BORDER TO CANADA. TO
GET REPRODUCTIVE CARE. LET ME
SHOW YOU EVERYTHING. NEW TODAY.
MICHIGAN’S GOP LED LEGISLATURE
IS ASKING THE COURT OF APPEALS
TO HALT THE INJUNCTION. GOVERNOR
WHITMER SECURED WHICH IS
PREVENTING A 1931 LAW, WHICH
CRIMINALIZES ABORTION IN THIS
STATE TO GO INTO EFFECT,
ACCORDING TO THE BRIEF FILED THE
LEGISLATURE CLAIMS THE JUDGE WHO
MADE THE RULING ENGAGED IN
JUDICIAL OVERREACH. IF THE
LEGISLATURE IS SUCCESSFUL THAT
1931 LAW WOULD THEN GO INTO
EFFECT IMMEDIATELY, WHICH PUTS
THE WOMEN WHO SEEK ABORTIONS AND
THE DOCTORS WHO PERFORM THEM AT
RISK OF CRIMINAL CHARGES. COME
ON, JOIN THE FIGHT, WHILE THE
GOP LED LEGISLATURE IS MAKING
THAT MOVE THE GROUP MICHIGAN
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALL HAS
DONE WHAT MANY THOUGHT WAS
UNTHINKABLE. IT’S COLLECTED
800,000 SIGNATURES TO PUT
ABORTION ON THE BALLOT THIS FALL
IN A YEAR WHERE MULTIPLE
CANDIDATES WERE KICKED OFF THE
BALLOT BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T GET
15,000 BALLOT SIGNATURES. IT’S A
MAJOR VICTORY FOR THIS GROUP TO
SECURE 800,000. THEY NEED
425,000. AMID THESE MOVES,
GOVERNOR WHITMER SENT THIS
LETTER TO THE FEDS TODAY ASKING
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND CLARITY
THAT WOMEN WHO CROSSED THE
BORDER LOOKING FOR REPRODUCTIVE
CARE. FACE NO LEGAL OBSTACLES.
BACK HERE LIVE MICHIGAN
REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM FOR ALL HAS
UNTIL JULY, 11TH TO TURN IN ALL
THOSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF
SIGNATURES WERE LIVE DOWNTOWN
TONIGHT. I’M MARA MACDONALD.
LOCAL 4. ALL RIGHT, MARA, WE’VE
GOT MUCH MORE TO COME ON. WHAT
IS A VERY BUSY THURSDAY? CHECK
IN WITH BRETT COLLAR. SOME
CHANGES WEATHER WISE ON TAP FOR
THE WEEKEND STARTING TOMORROW AS
RAIN IS SET TO RETURN NEXT WEEK
. MORE HEAT, MORE HUMIDITY AND
MORE RAIN, BUT SANDWICHED
BETWEEN ALL THAT. GOOD LOOKING
WEEKEND. BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU
COMING UP. WHICH IS GOOD,
BECAUSE IT’S NOT GOING TO BE
JUST ONE AND DONE THREE HUGE
CONCERTS HAPPENING AT COMERICA
PARK THIS WEEKEND. THE FIRST
STATE POLICE INVESTIGATING A
TRAGIC ACCIDENT THAT TOOK THE