A veteran Michigan sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed in cold blood Saturday night when a cowardly driver of a stolen vehicle jumped out of his vehicle without warning and opened fire, authorities said.
Bradley Reckling, a nine-year veteran of Detroit’s Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and married father of three, saw the burning vehicle and gave chase, but was shot and killed when the driver jumped out of the car.
“It was an ambush,” County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said at a news conference. The Detroit Free Press reported. Sunday. “You just have to look into the faces and eyes of our people to see how heartbreaking this is.”
Reckling, 30, was on duty in the Detroit suburb of Madison Heights when he first spotted a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox that had been reported stolen earlier that morning and tracked the vehicle while radioing headquarters.
Once inside the city, the assailants parked their car, suddenly jumped out and opened fire on the police, fatally shooting Mr. Reckling in the head and chest.
“Three suspects are in custody and further details will be released at a later date,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Sunday Facebook Post“Deputy Reckling was a nine-year veteran and a much-loved member of our team.
“He is survived by his loving wife and three beautiful daughters, ages 5, 4 and 1, with another child on the way,” the post read. “He was a friend and trusted partner to countless members of our agency.”
The department said it was raising funds for Reckling’s family through the Mission Oakland charity.
in Sunday’s statementOakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said she was “shocked and saddened” by Reckling’s death.
“Officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” McDonald wrote. “This is a senseless killing and a great loss for our entire community. This is another tragedy caused by gun violence that continues to take a huge toll on our community.”
McDonald’s office did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the suspect.
