Standoff with man who fired at group lighting fireworks

ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. – Authorities say a man who opened fire at people shooting off fireworks has barricaded himself in a suburban Detroit home and is shooting at police and a robot deployed to stop him.

Police and residents in St. Clair Shores say the man fired into a crowd Thursday evening and hit a 12-year-old in the arm and woman in her 60s in her calf. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

Neighbours say the man threatened children, who had been playing with sparklers on Independence Day.

Officers surrounded a home where the man was staying and deployed a robotic battering ram to knock down the door. Police say he has fired upon officers as well as robots approaching and entering the home.

Police remained in a tense standoff Friday afternoon and told neighbours to stay in their homes. The man’s condition wasn’t immediately known.