18-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot by Police After Car Fire in Northville Township

Update: The man has been identified by police as Gabriel Vernon Stevenson, an 18-year-old male from Ypsilanti.

A car fire in Northville Township lead to a car chase that ended with a suspect being fatally shot by Michigan State Police Tuesday morning.

At approximately 2:05 a.m., Northville Township police officers on routine patrol found a suspicious vehicle parked on Napier Road north of Six Mile Road that had its license plate covered, according to Northville Township Public Safety Director John Werth.

Around 2:20 a.m., Northville Township Fire Department was notified of a car fire that was just down the street from that location, Werth said. The officers nearby saw a suspect running down to the suspicious car and get in.

Officers stopped the car on Six Mile Road west of Napier Road to question the suspect, Werth said. After a brief conversation with the officer, the man now identified as Gabriel Vernon Stevenson turned and shot at the officer. The officers returned fire, and the Stevenson pulled away and took off. Police chased the car to Six Mile and Dixboro Road in Northfield.

Due to icy road conditions, the Stevenson's car slipped through an intersection and crashed into a home, Werth said. Officers were joined by Michigan State Police to try to aprehened the suspect. Stevenson exited the car and attempted to enter the home by breaking a window. He then advanced toward and lunged at officers with a knife and was shot and killed by a Michigan State Police trooper.

No one else was injured in the incident, or in the car fire.

The case is still under investigation by Michigan State Police and Northville police.

Check back with Patch later for updates on this story.