Lieutenant James L. Schmit

James L. Schmit

Lieutenant James Schmit and Officer Frank Walls were shot and killed while they and several other officers attempted to remove a mentally disturbed man from his apartment at 4130 Springle Ave. The suspect opened fire through the front door with a 30-30 rifle killing Officer Schmit who was located outside.

Following a seven-hour siege, the suspect then shot and killed Officer Walls as he led a special operations team into the apartment during the standoff following Lieutenant Schmit's murder. The entry team had secured the lower level of the apartment and as Officer Walls moved to the stairs he was shot and killed. Other officers shot and killed the suspect.

Lieutenant Schmit served 20 years with the Detroit Police Department. He was survived by his wife and three children.