Detroit Police: Officers Shoot and Wound Armed Man Rolling Joint in Gas Station

Assistant Chief David LeValley

Detroit Police say two officers shot and wounded a 31-year-old man Thursday night inside a BP gas station at Conner and Wade in the east-side Ravendale area. No one else was hurt.  

Officers happened to stop by the station around 7 p.m. when they noticed the man in the corner of the store rolling a joint, said Assistant Police Chief David LeValley at a press conference outside the business. It was not part of a police run.

When the officers approached the man to question him, he tried to break away and then allegedly pulled a gun from his waistband, prompting officers to fire seven times, LeValley said. It is not illegal to possess marijuana in Michigan, "but I just don't think you can roll a joint inside a gas station," the assistant chief added.

The man was conscious and listed in temporary serious condition at St. John Hospital.

Detroit Police and Michigan State Police are investigating.