Violent chase ends with shooting, suicide outside Beaumont Dearborn

One man killed himself in the parking lot of Beaumont Dearborn Wednesday night after chasing and firing a gun at another man as they drove through multiple cities, according to police.

The man being chased suffered non life-threatening injuries. The hospital was placed on lockdown amid announcements over a loudspeaker of an active shooting, causing tense moments for patients and staff.

According to Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad, the scene began to unfold at 8:30 p.m. in Melvindale, when one man started chasing the other as they drove.

It's unclear what started the dispute, Haddad said. One of the men was the current boyfriend of a woman who was the other man's ex.

The chase went through Melvindale and Allen Park before heading to Dearborn.

"One of the parties was armed with an assault rifle and a handgun," Haddad said. "He was firing at the other party in the other car. They ended up in the area of Beaumont Hospital."

The man with the guns shot himself in the hospital's north parking lot, Haddad said.

The other man was being treated late Wednesday in the emergency room. It was unclear whether his injuries were gunshot wounds.

No shots were fired inside the hospital. No one else was hurt.

People inside Beaumont posted worried messages on social media as hospital officials and police worked to gather more information.

The lockdown was lifted at 10:28 p.m.

"Police pursued the shooter into a parking entrance on our campus. In an abundance of caution, the campus was placed on lockdown," hospital spokeswoman Paula Rivera-Kerr said late Wednesday. "At this time, police are investigating the situation and have reassured hospital leadership that all patients, families and staff are safe and secure."

Maha Sarris, 28, of Dearborn was in Beaumont visiting her mom when she heard popping.

Then, Sarris said, an announcement came over a loudspeaker telling people there was a shooting in the west side of the hospital. The announcer said everyone should seek shelter.

Out of her mom's window, Sarris saw several police cars and officers rush toward the hospital amid wailing sirens.

Subsequent announcements over the loudspeaker followed. Sarris said later announcements used the term act of violence instead of saying there was an active shooter.

Sarris said the incident was scary.

"I'm just so thankful for how the police and the (hospital) staff worked accordingly, and they made us feel safe and secure," she said. "They tried not to give anyone any anxiety about what was going on."

Haddad said a newly coordinated dispatch system proved to be useful.

"It was a well-coordinated response between Melvindale and Dearborn," he said. "Our newly consolidated dispatch really aided in the rapid response."

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Contact staff writer Ann Zaniewski at 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AnnZaniewski.