Detroit sheriff’s deputy shot dead in vicious ambush in ‘soul-crushing’ loss as 3 in custody

A Detroit police officer was 'ambushed' and shot to death while following a stole vehicle on Saturday night.

Deputy Bradley Reckling of Oakland County Sheriff was part of the office's stolen vehicle unit and had been responding to a call concerning a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox that had been stolen from Red Oaks Waterpark in Madison Heights that day. The deputy, along with two other detectives , managed to located the car and were behind it in the area of Schoenherr and Park Grove streets at around 10:50pm.

However, the car suddenly stopped and the suspects stepped out and began shooting . The father-of-three was hit in the head and chest and died from his injuries. His colleagues, who were nearby in their own vehicles, were not hit.

READ MORE: Police chief 'angry about what my men and women must endure' after Philadelphia cop shot

READ MORE: Two sheriff's deputies injured in shooting on Tennessee highway

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said: "It was an ambush," adding that, "I think it evolved very quickly." The officer noted that Detroit police and Michigan State Police responded quickly to the incident and set up a perimeter.

A total of three people were taken into custody following the fatal shooting as an investigation into the killing continues. Bouchard also said during the press conference on Sunday that the current information is preliminary as Reckling was in an unmarked vehicle that had no dash cam to record the incident.

The victim had been with the force for nine years, reports Fox 2 , and leaves behind a wife and children aged five, four and one, with another baby on the way. Bouchard said Reckling's family would need support before noting the extra support his deputies also needed.

"We need resources," he said, adding that his deputies had only just dealt with the Rochester Hills splash pad shooting a week ago - where two children died - and were at the Oxford High School shooting in 2021 that saw four people killed. These type of events take a toll on the mental health of officers, Bouchard said.

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sports and entertainment stories.

A tweet on Sunday from Detroit Police Department Chief James White paid tribute to Reckling and expressed his "deepest condolences" to his friends and family. "To our law enforcement partners in Oakland County, please accept my most sincere admiration for the courage you will continue to show as you rise to meet the challenges of the coming days. And to my friend Sherriff Bouchard, thank you for your leadership during this very difficult time," he added.