Posted at 10:12 AM, Apr 07, 2021
and last updated 2021-04-07 12:30:15-04
(WXYZ) â Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said no charges will be made in the Hakim Littleton case.
Worthy said the officers acted in lawful defense.
Police shot Littleton in July 2020 during the arrest of another man. Littleton died from his injuries.
Police were arresting a man named Mr. Sylvester on an active federal DEA warrant. Littleton was present during the arrest.
Littleton then drew a handgun from his left pocket, pointed it at officers, and fired a shot at one of the police officers at close range, narrowly missing him. Chief Craig said it was between 2-3 feet from the officer.
The officers in this case acted with lawful self-defense; there will be no charges, Worthy said.
Her decision comes almost exactly nine months after the officer-related death. Police returned fire on Littleton near San Juan and McNichols after Littleton pulled a gun out of his pocket, pointed it at the head of an officer and opened fire which was captured on video.
According to Police Chief James Craig, the incident happened while officers were going to arrest another individual with alleged ties to a block party shooting when they came upon Littleton, who pulled out a gun as he stood on a sidewalk.
No charges in shooting death of Hakim Littleton, Prosecutor Kym Worthy says
By Jack Nissen
No charges after man killed by Detroit officers, prosecutor rules
Video released by the Wayne County Prosecutor shows Hakim Littleton pointing a gun at Detroit Police officers just moments before he was shot and killed by officers. On Wednesday, the Wayne County Prosecutor ruled no charges would be filed against the officers involved.
DETROIT - The Wayne County Prosecutor has declined to press charges in the shooting death of Hakim Littleton, who was struck four times during a shootout with Detroit police last summer.
Prosecutor Kym Worthy said the officers involved in the incident last July acted in lawful self-defense when they shot Littleton.
Wayne Co. Prosecutor announces charging decision in Hakim Littleton case
By Veronica Meadows and Jack Nissen
Published
DETROIT - The shooting death of Hakim Littleton by Detroit police last summer was one of the city s higher-profile cases during a turbulent and combustible period between law enforcement and activists.
Littleton was shot after he pulled a gun out and shot at officers during an arrest of a separate individual that day. His death sparked a wave of protests that only added fuel to the fire in Detroit which had already been embroiled in protests against police violence last year.
The Detroit police chief has maintained his support and defense of the officers involved. But Littleton s brother Rashad says DPD mishandled the situation. The Wayne County Prosecutor s Office is expected to announce a charging decision today at noon.
Detroit Prosecutor Decides Fatal July Shooting of Hakim Littleton Was Done in Self-Defense
On 4/7/21 at 3:49 PM EDT
Detroit police officers will not face charges for their involvement in the fatal shooting of Hakim Littleton, a 20-year-old Black man who died during an altercation with law enforcement last July.
Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy announced her office s decision regarding the case on Wednesday, following an extended investigation to which the Michigan State Police, the Detroit Police Department s homicide task force, and county prosecutor s office contributed. A public integrity unit at the prosecutor s office conducted an independent review of the case. Our finding today is that the officers in this case acted with lawful self-defense of self and others, and thus there will be no charges in this particular case, said Worthy during a press conference held on Wednesday, coinciding with the release of her office s decision.