Neighbors Evacuated Over ‘Very Volatile’ Barricaded Gunman Situation In Taylor

TAYLOR (WWJ) - Police are trying to negotiate with a gunman who has been barricaded inside a Downriver home for several hours.

Police responded to a home in the 25000 block of Wick, between Telegraph and Beech Daly roads in Taylor, around 11 p.m. Wednesday, and arrived to find a man in his 20s firing shots, including at officers. One shot reportedly hit an armored SWAT vehicle, although it doesn’t appear anyone was injured in the gunfire.

“There has been many hours of exchange of gunfire. The shooter has not been struck,” Police Chief Mary Sclabassi told WWJ’s Ron Dewey. “We are currently negotiating with him right now, trying to get him to come out of there safely and bring a resolution to this.”

Sclabassi called the situation “very volatile,” urging residents to stay inside their homes or completely avoid the area. Some neighbors have even been evacuated.

“Being that we are nearing the hour when the students will be heading out, the Titan Academy, which is nearby here, has been closed by the district, as well as the career center in addition to all bus stops in this immediate area,” Sclabassi said.

The situation might have stemmed over an ongoing dispute between the man and his neighbors.

“I know neighbors were calling due to some loud music and some other types of complaints,” Sclabassi said. “As far as what spurred last night’s shooting, we still don’t know that yet.”

Sclabassi said police have been called to the man’s home over the past couple of days regarding the dispute, which was escalating, but they did not think it would reach this degree.

“Our officers have been working very hard at talking with this individual to try to bring this to a peaceful conclusion,” she said.

Reports say the man, who has not been identified, suffers some sort of mental illness that might be affecting his judgment.

“I can’t speak to his mental state but whatever help he needs, our goal is to get that for him today,” Sclabassi said. “But, he’s going to have to present himself to us peacefully so we can go about taking care of that.”

The scene remains active Thursday morning.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.