Daniel Bethencourt

Detroit Free Press

An off-duty Detroit Police officer fired up to 10 shots at a would-be robber early Monday morning, sending the assailant to the hospital with minor injuries, police said.

"His training certainly kicked in," said Detroit Police Chief James Craig at a news conference Monday, speaking of the officer who finished training at the academy only two months prior. "It could have been a different outcome, certainly for him and his acquaintance, and certainly we're happy that the suspect is going to recover from his injuries."

►Related:DPD detective demoted after anti-Black Lives Matter rant goes viral

The shooting happened in the 16800 block of Linwood on the city's west side, when the off-duty officer was sitting in a car with a female acquaintance at around 2 a.m., said Craig.

The officer noticed a silver Chrysler pass by and then return, became concerned at how it was driving and stepped out of his car -- and at that moment he saw the passenger point "what appeared to be a high-powered rifle in the direction of the officer and said, 'This is a robbery,' " Craig said.

The officer responded by firing "a number of shots," striking the suspect and giving him minor injuries. That man has been released from a hospital and taken into custody. It's not yet clear what charges he will face. Police did not release any details about him.

Later Monday, police arrested the alleged driver of the Chrysler, a 24-year-old acquaintance of the suspect, police announced around 7 p.m.

Craig noted that the mother of the would-be robber has been cooperative with police, and spoke with Craig personally. "I want to acknowledge her for being the kind of parent who is concerned. And certainly our prayers go out for a speedy recovery for her son," Craig said.

The officer is on restricted duty in the wake of the shooting.

Craig said there's no evidence that the suspect knew he was confronting an officer.

Contact Daniel Bethencourt: dbethencourt@freepress.com. Follow on Twitter @_dbethencourt.