David Jesse, and Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the police department where Rose started his career.

Wayne State University police officer Collin Rose is on life support and in "grave" condition with his fiancee and family by his side in a Detroit hospital, Wayne State Police Chief Tony Holt says.

"This is a very difficult day for me," Holt told reporters at press conference Wednesday morning. "In my 40-plus years at Wayne State I never thought I'd have day like this."

► Update: Wayne State campus police officer dies after being shot

► Related:Wayne State shooting suspect twice arrested on assaulting officers

► Related: Suspect arrested, officer ID'd in Wayne State police shooting

Rose, 29, was shot in the head Tuesday evening while patrolling an area a few blocks off campus, near Martin Luther King Blvd. and Trumbull, in Detroit's Woodbridge neighborhood when he stopped to investigate a man, Holt said. It was unclear whether the officer had responded to a 911 call, although a woman who said she witnessed the shooting also said she'd called 911 about a troublesome man on a bike.

There had been a rash of car breakins in the area the day before. Holt said he didn't know how that factored into Rose's decision to stop the suspect. The suspect, who is not being named by the Free Press because he has not been formally charged, was arrested late Tuesday night.

The suspect is known to the Wayne State police and other area departments. In 2011, he was charged with two charges of felony assault involving a police officer, one causing injury, and pleaded guilty, resulting in a 53-day jail sentence, the records show. There also was an incident in 2014, Holt said, although he didn't have details of that.

People who live near the scene where Rose was shot said the suspect is a regular recipient of meals handed out three evenings per week from the I Am My Brothers Keeper Ministry about a block away.

"He's just eat his food and took off," said a man who identified himself as Angelo L. "(He would) go outside, smoke a cigarette and just vanish. That was it, just like everybody else that comes down there to eat."

He said he'd seen the man in the area regularly for the past five to six years.

Angelo L. said he was familiar with Rose, who would regularly speak with and help people in the neighborhood, and that he feels "very, very bad for him."

Annette Covington, who was sitting in a vehicle with Angelo, lives near the scene and said the police broke down her door and raided the home, making a mess and tossing her TV and heater on her bed. She said they don't associate with the suspect, but that "we feed and help everybody in this neighborhood."

A man who identified himself as Thad L. said the suspect had been homeless and living in a nearby park. He said he declined to give his full name because he was concerned people associated with the suspect would come after him.

The shooting is hitting the 65-member police department hard, university President M. Roy Wilson said at

the press conference. At the press conference, many Wayne State officers, visibly shaken, gathered in the back and exchanged long hugs with each other.

Officials painted a picture of a dedicated officer when talking about Rose.

He was a 2010 graduate of Ferris State Univeristy and was one credit short of completing his master's degree in police administration at Wayne State. His first job was with the Richland police department in western Michigan.

He was a K-9 officer, who had both a bomb dog and a narcotics dog. Both were in his vehicle when Rose made the stop last night that led to his shooting.

Holt said it is common practice for the dogs not to be brought out on stops to control suspects.

Rose had worked and done and conducted training all over the state, Holt said. He was also heavily involved in organizing memorials for other slain police officers in the area. Members of many Detroit-area police departments showed up at the hospital last night and were there this morning.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder issued a statement this morning praising Rose.

"When people dial 911, it's because they are afraid and in need of assistance. Officer Rose is one of those brave individuals who will answer that call without hesitation. We should all be thankful that such dedication exists throughout Michigan's law enforcement agencies. Our police officers need our support and appreciation. This recent wave of violence against those sworn to protect and serve must end. Let's hope Officer Rose can make a full recovery and let's never forget the sacrifice he has made in service to his state."

This is the first shooting of a Wayne State officer in 36 years. That officer was shot in the leg.

"This is a tragedy of immense proportions," Wilson said, adding "Collin was doing his job. For that we thank him."

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj