Police in suburban Detroit apprehend man suspected of shooting 2 cops

Max Reinhart, The Detroit News on Jun 19, 2025

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DETROIT — Authorities said they have apprehended the "prime suspect" in the shooting of two suburban Southgate police officers at an apartment complex in the Wayne County community.

Southgate police said the suspect, Jeremiah Christian Kemp, 20, was taken into custody without incident after officers found him in one of the apartment buildings in the area.

A person of interest was also in police custody, Southgate Police Lt. Robert Lukofsky said.

Police officials said two officers were transported to a Dearborn hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after suffering gunshot wounds to the leg.

Police had issued a "code red shelter-in-place" order "until we get eyes on the suspect," Lukofsky said at about 7 p.m.

The shooting incident occurred at a large apartment complex that includes both the Village On The Park and The Reserve at Southgate apartments, located east of Interstate 75.

Authorities said they were initially dispatched to the scene at about 4 p.m.

Local resident Jesse "Soko" Sokolowski had just taken his bicycle to a nearby store and returned to the area to find the apartment complex swarming with police. After seeing a description of the suspect, he told police he would ride his bike around the area in search of Kemp.

"They told me, 'If you see him, don't engage,'" Sokolowski told The Detroit News.

He said he watched as police swept through the apartment complex in search of the suspected gunman.

"I watched them open some U-Haul trailers and they were in there with their guns and the dogs were out there," he said.

About four hours after authorities were initially called to the scene, a police helicopter continued to circle overhead while law enforcement vehicles patrolled.

One resident said the area has its share of crime, but she's never seen such an immense police presence.

"My car just actually got broken into like two weeks ago," said Erin Nedd, who lives in an apartment at the complex, "but I've never seen anything like this."

Police did not provide further information regarding the incident.

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