DETROIT (FOX 2) – It’s been two days since friends, family and colleagues have come to terms with the tragic death of Detroit police officer Lauren Courts, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. On Wednesday night, he was shot and killed in an ambush by a 19-year-old man with a long criminal history and an assault weapon on the city’s west side. His wife, Kristine, son Darian, 15, and daughter Devyn, 9, spoke about what it meant to them. Christine said that day she volunteered to work a double shift. He didn’t even have to work but volunteer – something he often did with the department. Ironically that day, he says he had a strange feeling and reached out to him beforehand. “He had called me and we were texting back and forth and he usually doesn’t call me when he’s at work because he’s at work so I’m glad I got to have that conversation with him,” Christine said. “And I said, ‘be safe.’ And he said, “You know I will.” “And later, we were texting and I said, ‘I’m just worried about you.’ he said. “I’ll be fine.” And I said, “I’ll always worry about you.” And I never thought I’d get that phone call. And it’s almost like an out-of-body experience.” FOX 2: “What will you miss most?” “The way he would look at me and smile with his eyes. He would give you that look and then even though I went to bed sometimes without him, waking up, he was there,” she said. “And he’s not going to be there anymore.” Detroit Police Officer Loren Courts More coverage: Just unbelievably tough on this family, and we thank them for letting us into their home to share his story. His wife wanted to talk, saying that of course he was a police officer, a hero, but he was much more. He was theirs. We talked to his 15-year-old son Darian, and during the interview he was holding a bracelet, a Thin Blue Line bracelet. He said that when his dad became a police officer five years ago, he gave him this bracelet. Both wore it on the right wrist, And when he died, he wore this bracelet and will wear it at the funeral. Darian said they had a trip planned and just under a week to go to Cedar Point for a trip. If you would like to donate to the family’s GoFundMe, find it here. Kristine Courts, left, and her husband, DPD Officer Loren Courts.
