Detroit — An off-duty police officer shot a man involved in a domestic violence situation on the city's east side Wednesday after he was discovered holding a gun against a woman's head, police say.

The incident occurred at 7:10 p.m. in the 5000 block of Rohns Street.

The officer was visiting relatives when he heard a commotion and went to investigate it, said Detroit Police Department spokeswoman Officer Holly Lowe.

The officer found a 45-year-old man holding a gun to his girlfriend's head, Lowe said. After identifying himself as a police officer, he ordered the suspect to put the gun down.

The suspect didn't comply, said Lowe, and "fearing for the woman's safety" the officer fired a shot, striking the suspect once in his groin area.

The woman, 34, drove the suspect toward an area hospital but crashed in the area of Mack Avenue and Alter Road, said Lowe. Police transported both of them to the hospital and they were listed in stable condition.

Police also recovered the weapon allegedly held to the woman's head, Lowe said.

srahal@detroitnews.com