Charges filed in shooting death of Taylor police officer

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy has charged Tyress Thearndos Mathews, 36, of Westland in connection with the July 23rd shooting in Taylor that resulted in the death of Taylor Police Department Officer Corporal Matthew Edwards.

Defendant Mathews has been charged with premeditated first-degree murder, a felony punishable by life in prison without parole; murder of a peace officer, a felony punishable by life in prison without parole; assault with intent to murder, a felony punishable by life or any term of years; felon in possession, a felony punishable by five years in prison; felony firearm, a mandatory two year sentence; and as a habitual 4th offender*, which is punishable by life if the primary offense has penalty of 5 years or more.

On Friday, July 23, 2010, around 6 a.m., Cpl. Matthew Edwards and Cpl. Gregory Piche of the Taylor Police Department responded to a radio dispatch run of a breaking and entering in progress on the 12000 block of Pine Street in Taylor. Cpl. Edwards and Cpl. Piche arrived at the scene, saw a window screen off and lying on the ground and observed the defendant leaning on a minivan parked outside of the residence. The officers exited their vehicle, and Mathews approached them, carrying a bag. Mathews allegedly had an argument with his wife and claimed he needed to re-enter their apartment to get his keys.

While Mathews was with Cpl. Edwards it is alleged that he fired a hand gun fatally striking him. Cpl. Edwards fell to the ground and the defendant continued firing the weapon. Mathews turned to run with the hand gun and the bag when Cpl. Piche and Mathews exchanged gunfire.

Several Taylor Police Department officers arrived at the scene. Cpl. Edwards was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The defendant was also taken to the hospital and is currently being treated.

“Corporal Edwards from all accounts was a committed and well respected law enforcement professional. He dedicated his life to making Taylor a safe place to live and died tragically in the line of duty. We owe a debt of gratitude to Corporal Edwards who was taken from his family and the law enforcement community much too soon,” said Prosecutor Worthy.

The Taylor Police Department will be making arrangements for the defendant to be arraigned.