Man Shot Dead After Dropping Son Off At Detroit Elementary School

DETROIT (WWJ) - Police are searching for a killer after a man was shot to death after dropping his young son off at an elementary school in southwest Detroit.

The incident happened around 8:10 a.m. Wednesday outside of Mark Twain Elementary School at Fort Street and Visger Street.

Police Chief James Craig tells WWJ's Vickie Thomas a 28-year-old man was slumped over in his SUV when officers arrived on the scene, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. Craig said the victim likely knew his killer.

"What we know based on our investigation is the victim, the father of a child here, was dropping his son off for school," said Craig. "We believe the son went into the school and the suspect who may have entered the car after or was in the car with them during the transport of his son, fired shots from an unknown weapon."

After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene on foot; he remains at large. The suspect is described as a black man with a medium complexion, 5'8" tall and 180 pounds, wearing a bright orange hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

"We have our K-9 out in the area, so we are asking for the public's help," said Craig. "We believe there certainly was a relationship, an acquaintance, that he knew the suspect."

Eyewitness Shantae Roberts said she discovered the victim dead after his SUV rear-ended her vehicle.

"Somebody came in and said 'Hey, somebody just hit your car,' and I was like 'OK.' So, I looked out the window while I was still in the classroom and I'm like 'Wow' because they was still pressed up against it," said Roberts. "I came outside and when I came outside I just kind of waved my hands to kind of get their attention, and because the windows are tinted I didn't know if anybody was inside the car. So, I walked up to the car the peer in and the guy was, like, slumped over. So, I was like, 'Call 911.'"

Administrators say the school is not on lock-down, and no staff or students were involved in the incident. The school day will continue as scheduled.

Fort Street is currently closed to traffic as police investigate the scene.

Detroit Public Schools Community District Police Department and the Detroit Police Department are investigating the shooting.

"Of course it's very disturbing, but we're going to do everything we can," said Craig. "Certainly our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. We're confident that we're going to bring some closure to this."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 313-267-4600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.