Kevin Matthew.

Dearborn
— The family of Kevin Matthew, the 36-year-old unarmed Black male who was fatally shot by Dearborn police on Wednesday, December 23 has vowed to bring justice against the police officer.

During an emotional press conference held by the National Action Network, Matthew’s family described him as a loving family man. 

His family verified that he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia. They said he was a community man who had been known in the neighborhood. 

“They shot him like a dog and left him there,” Matthew’s brother said.    

A Black Lives Matter protest is now scheduled in Dearborn on Saturday, December 26 in front of the Dearborn Police Department. 

Matthew was wanted
on a $2,500 probation violation warrant in Redford Township. Earlier in the
day, he escaped Dearborn Police after allegedly committing Larceny.

Family members of Matthew say he suffered from Schizophrenia
disorder and had been taking medication.

An unidentified officer was on patrol in the area of Tireman and
Greenfield, near the border of Detroit observed Matthew walking. When the
officer approached the subject, he fled on foot.

According to the Dearborn Police Department, the officer chased
him on foot until they both entered the Detroit border. When a struggle,
ensued, the officer fired his department issued weapon, striking the subject.

Matthew was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident. The
officer, who has yet to be identified, was taken to a local hospital for
injuries he sustained during the incident.

In a press release, Dearborn Police Chief Ron Haddad extended
his condolences to the Matthew family.

“This is
extremely tragic, and while we are grateful that the officer involved did not
sustain serious injuries, our condolences go out to the family of the
decedent,” Haddad said.

The
Detroit Police Department also responded to the scene of the incident and said
they would be conducting an investigation of their own.

Detroit
Police Chief James Craig said the pursuit “ended in the backyard of a
residence, where there was an obvious struggle” and then shots were fired. 

Craig
said the Dearborn Police officer’s uniform was torn, equipment off of his
belt was in disarray at the scene and he sustained minor injuries.

In a statement today, the Detroit Coalition Against Police Brutality said it will be investigating the shooting.

“”We remain vigilant about these shootings, and will withhold any other statements until our investigators have completed a fact-finding,” Coalition spokesperson Ken Reed is quoted saying in the statement. “We want to make sure that proper procedures were followed, and will continue to monitor Dearborn and Detroit police departments relative to this incident.”