AKRON, Ohio — A suspect in a homicide in Wyandotte, Michigan, was taken to a hospital after police in Akron stopped the vehicle he was driving, and he set himself on fire outside of beauty shop on Copley Road, officials told News 5.
The 59-year-old man is accused of killing a 55-year-old woman on March 23, according to a news release from Wyandotte Police Chief Brian Zalewski.
Police said the victim was stabbed. Her name has not been released. The chief said the woman was the girlfriend and co-worker of the suspect.
Wyandotte police were called after co-workers of the victim reported on Saturday that they had not seen her at work for multiple days. Officers went to her apartment and found her deceased. Her vehicle was not at the scene, and it was believed the suspect drove her vehicle away from the scene.
Wyandotte police entered the suspect's name and the license plate of the vehicle into the Law Enforcement Information Network database.
Akron Police Captain Michael Miller said around 10:55 a.m. Monday, Akron Police’s Flock camera system registered a hit on the vehicle's license plate.
Officers spotted the vehicle traveling east on Copley Road and conducted a high-risk traffic stop, Miller said. The vehicle pulled into A & A Beauty Supply on Copley Road, and officers approached it at gunpoint, giving the man verbal commands to turn off the vehicle and drop the knife he had in his hand.
The huge law enforcement presence startled workers at the beauty shop.
"I was shocked. It was a shock because I've never seen anything like that. I was a little scared because I ran. I ran into the back of the store," said employee Steven Bell.
The officers then saw smoke coming from the vehicle, Akron police said.
Video from the beauty store captured the man pouring liquid on himself and setting himself on fire.
The man jumped out of the car, and officers used fire extinguishers on him. They later put out the small flames inside the car.
"We saw smoke coming from the car and we thought maybe it was a smoke bomb, but we found out he tried to set himself on fire," said Jack Oueslati, owner of Jack's Deli.
EMS was immediately called to the scene and transported the man to Akron Children’s Hospital, which has a burn unit, Miller said. He suffered had multiple burn injuries.
"I'm told about the body, face and arms and so forth. I don't believe it's a life-threatening, but we're waiting on an update to determine the severity of his injuries," Miller said.
Wyandotte police are working with prosecutor's office to review the case and issue charges against the suspect.
Note: Police initially told News 5 that the man was wanted in connection with a double homicide in Michigan but later clarified that it was a single homicide.
