Rakim Wright; Warren police to release video after suspect fatally shot by officers in Detroit

Rakim Wright – Authorities are expected to release video footage Thursday morning related to a police pursuit that began in Warren and ended with a fatal officer-involved shooting in Detroit. The incident, which has sparked controversy and conflicting accounts, started with a report of domestic violence.

According to Warren police, officers were dispatched early Tuesday to the 13000 block of Prospect after a woman called 911. She alleged that her boyfriend, identified by family as Rakim Wright, had strangled her and attempted to set the house on fire. Before officers arrived, Wright had already fled the scene in a vehicle.

Police tracked the suspect’s location to the area of McNichols and Van Dyke in Detroit. When officers located his vehicle, they attempted a traffic stop, but Wright reportedly sped away. As the chase unfolded, police allege that Wright began firing a weapon at officers from inside his vehicle.

The pursuit eventually led to Castle Avenue and Kenney Street, where the suspect abandoned the car and ran. Police claim that he continued firing shots while fleeing on foot. Officers returned fire, and shortly afterward, Wright was found with a gunshot wound to the head. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

However, Wright’s family disputes the official version of events. His brother, Dwight Savage, strongly rejects the claim that Wright was armed or shot at officers. Savage questioned why, if police had multiple units on the scene, they did not apprehend Wright non-lethally. “They could’ve tackled him and cuffed him,” he said. He accuses police of using unnecessary lethal force, saying, “They shot him, they murdered him.”

In response to these accusations, the police issued a public statement condemning what they described as “blatantly incorrect narratives” spreading on social media and in the community. They criticized the rush to judgment by some commentators before the investigation could produce verified findings. “While social media and neighborhood commentary moves at lighting speed, investigations of this nature take much more time,” the statement read.

Police indicated that the video and other evidence set to be released would contradict the claims made by Wright’s family. They asserted that the forthcoming material would show that Wright’s death resulted from his own actions involving a firearm during the confrontation.

“Our facts, supported by compelling video and other evidence, will unquestionably demonstrate that the deceased’s death was a direct result of his own actions,” the police said in their release.

The release of the footage is highly anticipated as both the public and Wright’s family await clarity on what actually occurred during the pursuit and shooting. As the investigation continues, tensions remain high, and the video evidence is expected to play a crucial role in shaping public opinion and determining the next steps in the case.