West Bloomfield Twp. officer fatally shot, suspect dead

A nearly 20 hour police standoff with a suspected cop killer finally ended Monday in West Bloomfield.  At one point, construction equipment was brought in to tear into part of the house, then a robot with a camera.  That's when police discovered the wanted man inside was dead.

Officer Patrick O'Rourke is the first West Bloomfield officer to be killed in the line of duty.

"It was perhaps premeditated and it was the last day in the home," said West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste.

The standoff started Sunday night when police responded to a 911 domestic disturbance call from a home on Forest Edge.  Four officers went in calling 50-year-old Ricky Coley's name, but as they reached the second floor gunshots ripped through the bedroom door striking O'Rourke in the neck.  The 39-year-old was rushed to the hospital, but did not survive.

The suspect refused to leave, allegedly firing off round after round that sounded more like the fireworks on the Fourth of July.

"It was just non-stop gun firing, and we've never seen anything like it.  The police chief described it as hundreds of rounds of gunfire all day long," Ureste explained.

In a bold and rare move, police had excavation crews tear down part of the home.  With military grade tanks and SWAT teams nearby, the robot detected Coley laying motionless in bed.  Officers eventually entered the house and discovered Coley died of a gunshot wound, but it's not clear if it was self-inflicted or from police.

"The image from the robot was from toe to head and he was surrounded by knives, weapons and wearing white goggles," Ureste said.

It was pretty clear Coley wasn't leaving without a fight and this may be why.  According to court records, Coley's marriage where he was accused of adultery and physical and emotional abuse ended in divorce a week ago.  Coley lost custody of his child and had been ordered out of his house by Monday.

There were also mounting financial issues.  Coley, who was already in debt for around $100,000, was being sued by the U.S. Labor Department for pocketing $341,000 that was supposed to cover employee insurance at a Michigan trucking company.

The West Bloomfield Township supervisor has been working with neighbors, who were forced to evacuate during the hail of gunfire.  Nearly 24 hours later, they were finally able to return to their once peaceful neighborhood.

"When they do reoccupy their homes, they may find that there is gunshot damage to their homes, as well," said Ureste.

Police were still on the scene Monday night investigating.

There will be a vigil for Officer O'Rourke Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. in front of the West Bloomfield Police Department.

Police plan to hold a press conference and release more details on Tuesday.  We're also told an autopsy will be scheduled which will reveal whether the suspect died from police gunfire or a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Visitation for Patrick O'Rourke is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Elton Black and Son Funeral Home in Highland, located at 3295 East Highland Road.  His funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. John's Catholic Church in Fenton, located at 600 North Adelaide.