Lansing police shoot, kill man after exchanging gunfire

LANSING — Police Tuesday morning shot and killed a Lansing man after shots were fired at officers shortly after 5 a.m. outside a home in the 2000 block of West Malcom X Street, Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee said.

Officers were attempting to serve a search warrant at a home when they encountered the man, who threatened them with a weapon, Sosebee said. He said officers tried to negotiate with him, but he fired at police.

The 31-year-old Lansing man died in the shooting, said Michigan State Police, which is investigating the incident.

Two Lansing officers were involved in the shooting and have been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, in accordance with departmental policy, state police said. The two officers involved in the shooting have eight and two years of experience, respectively, MSP said.

Later Tuesday, Lansing police identified the man who died as Terrence Robinson, 31.

Around 3 p.m., MSP said in a tweet that they had secured the residence. They did not say if anyone else was arrested or injured.

In another Twitter thread Tuesday morning, LPD said Robinson struck an LPD vehicle with gunfire as officers were trying to negotiate. He then "exited the residence while shooting at officers outside."

"Officers returned fire, striking the accused," Sosebee said at a press briefing. "Officers were able to secure the accused and render aid. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead."

During a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Sosebee said officers responded to a shots-fired call in the area about 10:48 p.m. Monday and noticed several stolen vehicles. They obtained a search warrant and returned about 5:27 a.m. Tuesday. A male at the house "threatened" to have a weapon, and while police were "negotiating" to de-escalate the situation, a round was fired inside the residence, Sosebee said.

At 5:44 a.m., Robinson came out of the house firing a weapon, striking a police car, the chief said. Officers returned fire, hitting him. A few minutes later, police secured other people who were in the house, he said.

Sosebee did not specify how many people were in the home at the time or say whether any were expected to be charged with a crime. He also did not say how many shots were fired by the suspect and the officers who returned fire.

Sosebee said Lansing police waited for MSP to clear the house because the state agency is investigating the incident. MSP searched the home with a bomb-sniffing dog.

"Any loss of life is tragic," Sosebee said, adding that police are asking for the community's patience as the investigation moves forward.

In an updated news release on Tuesday afternoon, Lansing police said officers performed first-aid measures on Robinson, who was pronounced dead at a hospital, they said. A firearm was recovered at the scene.

“The involved officers acted with bravery and professionalism," Sosebee said in the news release. "From what I know, the decision-making, communication, and response from all the officers involved were the reasons why there were no additional lives lost."

Sosebee also said his department "intends to prioritize transparency and assist the Michigan State Police with their investigation moving forward.”

Once the investigation concludes, MSP will submit its findings to Attorney General Dana Nessel for review. Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon said in June 2020 the office would no longer review cases involving police shootings and other deaths of individuals in police custody.

In a written statement, Mayor Andy Schor said he trusts "there will be a thorough review" of the incident.

"The situation this morning was certainly terrible, and I am tracking it closely," he said. "We always want to avoid violence, and especially loss of life."

Much of the area was blocked off to traffic, including Buffalo Street, part of Malcolm X Street, Olds Avenue north of William Street and part of Main Street. Detectives were expected to remain at the residence for a few hours processing the scene, MSP said.

The area includes several industrial sites as well as numerous homes.

Sean Vanderhorst is a supervisor for Master Mowing, a landscaping company that owns a lot directly west of Buffalo Street. He lives in a mobile home on the lot, and he said he woke up about 5 a.m. Tuesday to the sound of “seven to eight” gunshots.

“It was quite a few,” Vanderhorst said. “Then, I see the cops show up and then I heard like seven more (shots), then it got quiet.”

He said he heard voices yelling to “get on the ground” and “put your hands up,” but after that, the scene went quiet.

Vanderhorst said police instructed his company to not have employees come into work today.

Contact reporter Jared Weber at 517-582-3937 or jtweber@lsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Lansing police shoot, kill man after exchanging gunfire