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Subscribe to RSSA 64-year-old man killed in a shootout at a suburban Detroit police headquarters first tried to shoot an officer behind bulletproof glass, says Southfield Police Chief Eric Hawkins.
The gunman who walked into a Michigan police station and opened fire on Veterans Day was a 64-year-old military veteran in poor physical health and struggling with “internal issues,” police said Monday.
Harold Joseph Collins, of Southfield, Mich., was killed in a shootout with officers at police headquarters in Southfield on Sunday afternoon, authorities said. An officer was wounded in the exchange.
At a press conference Monday, Southfield Police Chief Eric Hawkins outlined the sequence of events that led to the shootout.
He said Collins, brandishing a .380-caliber handgun, walked into the lobby of the police station with a blank stare on his face; without warning he tried to shoot an officer behind bulletproof glass.
“The suspect approached the front desk officer and simply stared at the officer. The suspect appeared to be staring into the distance and not a word was said,” Hawkins said.
The weapon didn’t discharge. Other officers then quickly confronted the gunman.
“He was ordered several times to drop his weapon. The suspect refused. Instead, he pointed the weapon at officers,” Hawkins said.
In the ensuing exchange, a 50-year-old police sergeant was shot in the shoulder. The gunman was shot several times and died.
Hawkins described Collins as a military veteran “who appeared to be in poor physical health” and may also have had psychological problems.
“Based on the behavior of this individual, in my opinion and in the opinion of investigating officers …this person was struggling with some very serious internal issues,” the police chief said.
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Hawkins said he didn’t know the gunman’s motive. Collins had no known criminal history.
“We can only speculate and right now I won’t, but yes, obviously yesterday was Veterans Day and we have information this person was a veteran. We have information this person was in poor health and had other internal issues.”
Hawkins wouldn't go into details about Collins' health issues but a former stepdaughter, Seretha Nobles, told the Detroit News on Monday that Collins had been suffering from throat cancer for many years.
"He couldn't speak, he can't talk," Nobles told the newspaper in a phone interview from her Georgia home.
Hawkins said the gunman arrived at the police department in a 2010 Dodge, which was later impounded for evidence. Investigators also planned to search the gunman's home for clues.
The wounded officer, whose name was not released, was “conscious, alert and in good spirits” at a hospital, Hawkins said. He was expected to be released later Monday or Tuesday.
All officers involved in the confrontation have been put on administrative leave per department policy pending an investigation.
Surveillance cameras in the lobby captured at least part of the confrontation, and the videos will be reviewed, the police chief said.
The shooting is being investigated by the Oakland County sheriff’s department. The Southfield Police Department will also do an internal investigation to make sure proper procedures were followed, Hawkins said.
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Leave a Comment:
Obviously we need to outlaw veteran's.
Suicide by cop. The fact that he was carrying a 380 says that he really didn't intend to kill anyone, unless he was an extremely skilled (or very lucky) shooter. He walked in there hoping to be 'taken out.' Poor bastard. No one knows what crap drove him to this. He could have saved time and just put the pistol in his mouth.
'My daddy's gun tastes like pennies.' Ralph Wiggum
Sounds like this write-up leaves it open for friendly fire while trying to handle a suicide by cop situation. If so, my sympathies to both the wounded officer and the one who shot him accidentally.
We are full of it. They come, first responders, 911. Our heroes. Great men in New York. Six years later they are dying. The Republicans refuse to provide care and refuse to give money for medical care.
We send our kids to foreign wars. They are our heroes. The great American fighter protecting us from evil.
They come back. No jobs. Lousy medical care. Total disdain. Homeless. We give them lip service. We talk too much @!$%#.
Not all Veterans are heroes, hardtalk.
Sadly, I think we will see more of this, not less. Since the TEA Party Members of the House and Senate want to reduce or eliminate support and services for veterans (well documented positions from all TEA Party Members) I would expect to see attacks on TEA Party Members going forward. Vietnam Era Vets who are currently classified as full-disability, could be left out in the cold if the TEA Party Members have their way. In this case, it seems like this vet was committing suicide by police officer, which the final report may show. As for the current wave of vets from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, this group will be far more aggressive due to the duration of their multiple tours. We are in for a real mess and the folks in Washington who voted for the Invasion of Iraq better step back, think about what they created, and then wait for the next episode of "last resort shooting". Old men sending young men to war must reap the fields they sow.
The King and Queen, Worker Bees, Solider Bees and Drones.
Maybe he brought about his own Mercy Killing at the hands of another Solider Bee, maybe he did not want the mortal sin of taking his own life.
Maybe this was a piece of mercy...
As the Solider Bees come home, I fear we may see more of this.
Sad times we are all forced to live in - closing treatment facilities that usually house and treat these individuals, forcing public housing projects - Section 8 Housing, to house and not treat those really in need! {:-(}
So sad that someone obviously who needed help only got a rain of bullets. Here we are in 2012 and we still don't have the technology to take someone out without killing them. The Vet never even managed to get a shot off and the useless cops just pulled out their guns. Not a taser or bean bag gun or tranquilizers. Oh no all we know are bullets and how to shoot in the chest not the gun out of the mans hand....
I don't know which is sadder: that you believe this, or that OTHER people actually upvoted your comment.
So dad, this vet probably had no one to turn to. I too am a vet, and struggling, but can't get any type of help, and hear it will take 12 to 18 mos to hear from the va. This is unacceptable, the govt needs to do a better job of taking care of the ones that take care of them.. some of these comments are uncalled for, but, I feel at least 65%^ of the comments made, are by people that have never been in the military. and dont have a clue how serving can affect someones life. I am praying for this man, his family and the police officer, and do agree with ang77700, and others on this issue..there is alot going on with vets, some not good, and the govt needs to step up and take action. And to think John McCain, voted against the veterans job bill. Also, how many senators and congressmen have served, probably not many, we need to turn that around also..@economykiller, that remark was uncalled for, but, veterans do fight for your freedom so you can make caddy remarks..disappointed in your remark..Some how, the politicians need to step up also. and what has happened to all that campaign money left over, surely that could be donated to the veterans fund.
Great addition to this discussion William-2587885. Thank you for your service. I'm sorry to hear that you're not getting the help you deserve and hope will be able to survive the VA ordeal. And sorry that you have to read these uncalled-for comments. While I didn't serve, both of my parents (father WWII, mother Korea) and my grandfather (WWI). You deserve more from your government that sent you to war and from those of us who's freedom you help guarantee.
@coloradoboy, good post, thank you, that explains alot of it..we need to do better with the vets. just hope we can. thank you. if you have ever served as I have, thank you for your service, if not, thank you for your concern and compassion.
A sad ending to a veteran on Veterans Day. No matter his problems, it underlines the fact that this country has to do more for those who served.
Well, the MIAC and Homeland Security reports DO say that the greatest terrorist threat to the US is not al-Qaeda, but returning veterans, libertarians, Ron Paul supporters, and Tea Party patriots...
You left out gangbangers, Mexican drug cartels and OWS zombies--all core Dem voters :-)
News flash... Not all veterans are heroes!!
I feel for this man and his family. I also hope the officer gets well soon.
But the fact of the matter is WE don't know what really happened and I have learned to not take what people say as truth, especially spokespeople. The only bright spot is that there was a video, as long as this video will be made available to the public without commentary or altering WE will know what really happened.
While I respect and honor the members of law enforcement, I also know that they often see things through prejudice eyes; anotherwards they pre-judge what they have seen or what they think they saw; many times video may prove that what they thought they saw and what really happened are two totally different views.
It is very possible that he never actually fired a shot at a police officer but pointed it in a "safe" direction and discharged it resulting in the police shooting him from every angle which may have resulted in a friendly fire situation; or he may have tried to kill a officer before his demise; only the video will show for sure.
Why do the Cops keep saying this guy was in "Poor Health" over and over. What does that even mean????
Thanks Zandooo -thought nobody was going to notice the article didn't say who shot the officer or if Mr. Collins had fired a round or if he had any in his possession. The most likely a case of friendly fire by cop for the wounded cop. The article was careful to dance around the specifics.
As one whom served in the Army...an knowing the mindset..it was death by cop! This is what happens when warriors are forgotten...unless there is immediate action...expect more!
Why is the headling about a veteran? Was he a warehouse worker, truck driver, house painter, laborer?
If he was an old man he was far, far from military service.
If you've ever been in combat, the war is the biggest thing on your mind. Most people are concerned if they have enough money to by the next Ipad and the vet thinks your frivolous crap is stupid. We sit in the corners of restaurants to make sure we have everything going on in sight. We don't like crowds. Yeah I was a carpenter for 25 years and as of late I even got registered as an architect. The stupid dealings with clients drove me nuts. To me everything was cut and dried. Black and White. Your a different animal if you have seen someone die or killed someone. Think about it!
Our vets deserve better.
This vet should have had a support system of healthcare and other professionals from day one. All vets should. If such a system was in place there would be no homeless vets, and no vets trying to shoot police officers in order to get themselves killed.
But, oh, of course, how silly of me; we can't afford to look after those who fought for and served our Great nation. What was I thinking, saying that we should actually spend MONEY on those who deserve it.
Suicide by cop better'n 4 more yrs Obama.
He must have been a coward because he could not just go somewhere and kill himself. He had to have the cops do it.
John, He is not a coward. If you know anything about veterans, some see being killed by gunfire from someone else as the fate they should have had. Their friends died and why not them. Maybe work didn't go so well because of the things that happened in combat and we all know veterans deserve better. They feel abandoned and alone. Read the following post that I put up previously. I understand this because I've been in the same boat. Think about it!
I am 63. I am a Vietnam veteran probably like this fellow was. About 3 years ago PTSD blew up on me and I became depressed and suicidal. I thought of a scheme of entering a bank with no security guard and to present a note to the teller that I was robbing them. After collecting some money and brandishing my toy gun I would turn to leave, then turn back and leave the money and run out of the bank and wait for the cops to chase me down. I think it would have worked. Fortunately I got help at the VA and with counseling and pharmaceuticals people say I'm pretty normal. There is some sadness and depression but it certainly is manageable. Veterans are out there like this guy and like I was. People need to be helpful and take steps if necessary to get these people help. War is awful. This is all the politician's fault. Be anti-war if you can and don't say send in the troops. We should only defend our own boarders.
Well with Enenor Roosevelt said when visiting with wounded war veterans in the Pacific, they were all animals unfit to return to society and proposed tywo years retraining them to fit back in. As terrible as that sounds, I believe she was right. Far too little is done for our veterans. They are simply released to fend for themselves and on average it will thak them 8 years working to catch up to the income of those never serving. I am a Vietnam Veteran myself though not combat. Being a woman kept me from being near harm. But for those never experiencing the horrors of war, they have no right to condemn our Vets
I know the worst thing for me is finding out how thwe US Government had been lying for so many years. And our Veterans died needlessly for corporate profits. Why in WWII both Ford and GM had plants in Nazi Germany manufacturing weapons I find that disgusting. Edsel; Ford received royaqlty checks from the Nazis all the way through that war And Henry Ford was so admired that Hitler had a picture of him on hios desk. What a disappointment when you find out youir country is not as advertised. Nearly 60,000 Americans kill4ed in Vietnam, and for what? That realization is something that could make anyone come apart.
I love my country but despise the government that is not mine.
Considering how fast a lot of cops are to use Tasers on people, it's too bad that, once they realized the gun wouldn't go off, and particularly since they had time to tell him to drop the gun, they didn't use one on him. Maybe this would have had a more satisfactory ending, with the veteran living through this and maybe able to get the help he so obviously and desperately needed.
Suicide by cop. I wish people would stop using the police departments across the country as their means to taking your own life. Police are trained to protect and serve, not kill. Not all veterans are created equally. Just because your a veteran does not mean they all served honorably. Many veterans have drug, alcohol and mental issues, and they are trained to kill. Killing is not a normal human function, that is where the mental issue arise. The VA is doing it best to address and help as many veterans as they can, but like any agency they can only do so much. Just like many with mental illness the best thing you can do for society is take your medication, if you don't take it you will not get any better. Police are trained in dealing with mental illness but there are times when patients are off their medication its makes matter worst and when there is a weapon involved will result in death. Remember police do not know when they are dealing with a mental patient, its not like they wear a sign identifying themselves.