Kalamazoo Sheriff Rick Fuller says his department is in mourning, following the death of Deputy Ryan Proxmire over the weekend.
At a news conference on Monday, Fuller said he could not release any information about the motives of the suspect and refused to name or describe him.
“I don’t know of a good word for a person that does what’s happened here this week. My one thing that I will end my times with I will never repeat those names.”
Fuller says no one else was injured from the gunfire coming from the suspect as he drove away from deputies late Saturday night. Proxmire was wounded during the chase and his patrol vehicle went off the road. He was found by a passerby, who called for help. Sheriff Fuller says he intends to thank that person.
Proxmire was shot Saturday night during a rolling gunfight in eastern Kalamazoo County. The 39-year-old deputy died of his injuries on Sunday. The investigation into the shooting deaths has been handed over to the Michigan State Police.
Fuller says the officers involved in the gunfight that left the suspect dead will be off-duty until a standard review is completed and all road patrols for the County are being covered by other agencies while the department recovers.
Proxmire was a long-time member of the Sheriff’s Department. He leaves behind a wife and four children.