Officer killed in West Bloomfield standoff identified, barricaded gunman unleashes rounds of gunfire

WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich., (WXYZ) - A West Bloomfield police officer has been shot and killed. He has been identified as Patrick O'Rourke.

Dozens of rounds were fired around 8:30 a.m. Monday during a standoff between police and a barricaded gunman identified as Ricky Coley that began hours earlier.

Police confirmed just before 6:30 p.m. that Coley was found dead in the home. His cause of death has not yet been determined. An autopsy is pending.

Police sources tell 7 Action News that the situation began Sunday night when Coley's mother and brother came to the house on Forest Edge Lane near Pontiac Trail and Halsted in West Bloomfield to take him to North Carolina, where they live.

7 Action News is being told that according to the terms of Coley's divorce, he was supposed to be out of the house Monday. Coley's wife has not lived in the house for three months and was not in the home at the time of the standoff.

When his mother and brother arrived, sources say Coley locked himself in his room and refused to leave.

Police sources say that while Coley's mother and brother were there a shot was fired. Coley's mother and brother ran out of the house and called police.

Sources say five officers responded to the shots fired call at around 10:00 p.m. Sunday. When officers entered the home, police say Coley started firing shots.

Officer O'Rourke was struck in the neck, he was taken to McLaren Hospital in Pontiac where he later died. He was a highly decorated 12-year veteran of the force and a father of four.

Officers retreated from the home. Coley exchanged gunfire with police throughout the day. He also shot at the robots police sent in to examine the home.

Hours into the standoff police brought in a excavator and tore out the upstairs wall. Once that was accomplished they were able to bring in a robot and see Coley motionless on a bed.

At that point the Oakland County Sheriff's Office Special Response Team went into the home. They were able to confirm that Coley was dead.

The situation triggered an evacuation in the area, with some residents of Forest Edge Lane evacuated to the Township Hall. People living in the area were allowed to leave, but were not allowed back until the situation was resolved.

Patrick O'Rourke was the first West Bloomfield officer to be killed in the line of duty. Additional officers were also injured in the incident.

The department has issued the following statement about O'Rourke's death:

It is with deep sadness that the West Bloomfield Police Department must report the death of Police Officer Patrick O’Rourke. Officer O’Rourke was fatally shot while investigating a “shots fired” complaint in the 4000 block of Forest Edge in West Bloomfield Township. Officer O’Rourke, age 39, was a twelve year veteran assigned to the patrol division. During his career, Officer O’Rourke was honored with a Lifesaving Award, three Certificates of Merit, and three Unit Commendations. He was a model police officer, a dedicated husband and father, and a great friend to all who knew him. He is survived by his wife and four children.

Buses servicing Walled Lake Central High School, Walnut Creek Middle School and Pleasant Lake Elementary School were suspended during the incident..

A candlelight vigil was held at the West Bloomfield Township Police Department on Walnut Lake Road at 7:45 p.m. on Tuesday.