Officer Lauren Courts, 40, and his partner had just arrived at the 911 call and were still in their patrol car when Davis opened fire through an upstairs window that hit Courts, White said.
“Frankly, we’ve been robbed. We’ve been robbed of one of our heroes. And we should all be outraged. We should be outraged. This is unacceptable,” White said.
Korts, a five-year veteran and the son of a retired Detroit police officer, leaves behind a wife and two children. Courts’ father “loved his city so much that he encouraged his son to join the Detroit Police Department to carry on his legacy,” White said.
The incident took place on Wednesday night. The 911 call was made around 7:30 p.m. Court, who was in the driver’s seat of the patrol car, was shot about 10 minutes later.
After he was shot, Kurtz put the car in reverse and he and his partner, Officer Amanda Hudgens, jumped out of the car to take cover, “but he had already hit a major artery and was dying,” White said. The courts collapsed and Hudgens began applying pressure to his wound.
Less than two minutes after he shot Courts, Davis reached down and pointed a Draco 7.62 semiautomatic handgun with a banana clip at the two officers, Detroit Police Professional Standards Director Chris Gravelin said. This weapon is a similar caliber to an AK-47 and is designed to fire multiple rounds in quick succession, Graveline added.
The police chief said Hudgens saw the gunman and had to quickly decide whether to continue applying pressure to Court’s wound or challenge the gunman.
“She made a choice that a lot of people in the same situation would say they would make, but it’s the first time I’ve ever seen someone do that. He had himself shot in the back of the head or in the back while she administered first aid,” White said.
“He (Davis) advances her with a rifle (sic). He administers first aid… he looks back, holds himself back and continues to apply direct pressure,” he added.
At the same time, the officers shot and killed Davis, ending the threat, White said.
White said the responding officers “followed their training, acted appropriately and stopped the threat.”
White said Davis had purchased the gun within the past two weeks. Police said a warrant was filed June 21 with the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office for Davis on a charge of assault with intent to murder.
Courts’ wife, Kristine, posted on Facebook: “This man was so much more than a police officer. He was an amazing dad, my best friend and the man I married. All the news articles are talking about is a DPD officer. . He was so much more for me and the kids. Our Batman!”
“I’m heartbroken, I can’t begin to imagine how we’re going to live without him. My babies need him. I need him. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this nightmare and he’s going to come home … me and my babies won’t be never the same. I already miss his hugs, his voice, his jokes and his smile with those eyes. Rest In Peace Dad, we will never stop loving you,” she added.
A GoFundMe has been set up for the family.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said U.S. and Michigan flags across the state will be lowered on the day of Courts’ burial and another date to be chosen by the family. “Michigan is devastated by the loss of Officer Lauren Courts. Officer Courts was a dedicated public servant and a proud Detroiter. Yesterday, he made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty,” she said in a statement.
The Detroit Police Department has lost nine officers in the line of duty since 2015, according to the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
White said lawmakers and the courts need to “step up” because “hearing what everybody’s going to do is a little old. It’s time to do it. We shudder, but we’re resolute in our mission to protect and serve this community”.
“The reality is that this is beyond the Detroit issue. This is the country issue and the relationship with law enforcement. It’s this, you know, anti-law enforcement debate.”
