KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) A shooter was shot and killed by officers Tuesday morning after luring them to a business and then opening fire, Kalamazoo police said.
Family of the man killed identified him as Brandon Stacey, 31. They said he previously worked for Life EMS and was a volunteer firefighter in Parchment. He was a husband and father to a young daughter.
Shocked family members said they don't know why Stacey did what he did, but they're sure he didn't want to kill any officers. They say Stacey, who spent a good chunk of his career in public service, didn't hate police.
Officers were called to the Biomat USA Plasma Center on East Kalamazoo Avenue at N. Edwards Street in downtown Kalamazoo, where family said Stacey had worked for less than a year, around 11:30 a.m. on a report of an active shooter.
When the first two officers got there, they entered and found the suspect just inside. He opened fire on them, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Director Karianne Thomas said, and they returned fire.
Stacey's family members said he didn't shoot first, though it's unclear where they got that information.
One of the officers was hit "multiple times," Thomas said, but the bullets were stopped by his vest.
"He was saved today by his bulletproof vest and the quick reaction of his fellow officer," she said.
The second officer continued firing, shooting the suspect multiple times. When other officers arrived, they started lifesaving efforts, but the suspect died.
The gunfire lasted less than three minutes, Thomas said.
The officer who was hit was taken to the hospital to be checked out, but was soon released.
No one else was hurt.
"We are so very fortunate in this community to have such caring and highly skilled public safety officers. These are men and women who will run into gunfire. We are so blessed that all our officers, all the employees of Biomat and their customers are going home safe tonight to their families," Thomas said.
She did not release the names of the officers.
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