AN attorney representing the family of a seven-year-old girl who was shot to death during a raid in Detroit said the police operation was flawed and was influenced by TV production concerns.

Aiyana Jones was shot and killed as she slept on a living room sofa after an officer's gun went off as police searched the house for a suspect.

Attorney Karri Mitchell told The Detroit Newsthat the police “were excited; they were on TV”.

“They didn’t have to throw a grenade through the front window when they knew there were children in there,” the attorney said.

The raid was being filmed for an episode of The First 48, a reality crime show broadcast by A&E, according to Detroit police spokesman John Roach.

He said investigators were examining the TV crew’s footage of the incident to help determine what occurred.

Police said officers went to the house with a valid search warrant to arrest a suspect in the murder of a 17-year-old high school student, myFOXdetroit.com reported.

Police reportedly threw a “flash grenade,” which emits a blinding flash and loud noise to disorient suspects, through a downstairs window.

Police said they entered the home at 12.40am (local time) on Sunday and a woman had responded with "some level of physical contact".

Aiyana's father, Charles Jones said: "They came into my house with a flash grenade and a bullet.

"They say my mother resisted them, that she tried to take an officer's gun. My mother had never been in handcuffs in her life.

"They killed my baby, and I want someone to tell the truth."

Police later said the officer and the grandmother may have just collided in the confusion, The Detroit News reported.

Police Assistant Chief Ralph Godbee said the shooting was being investigated and all information was preliminary.

The officer was put on paid administrative leave, he said. Police do not believe the gun was fired intentionally.

The Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality called the girl's death "the pain of pains" and held a candlelight vigil on Sunday evening at the home.