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Michael Contrell Adams III

Age : 16

Gender : Male

Race : Black

Date : 08/08/2021

Location : East Grand Boulevard near St. Aubin Street

City : Detroit

County : Wayne

State : Michigan

Agency : Detroit Police Department

Officer(s) :Unknown

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during drag racing investigation

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 08/08/2021, Detroit police undercover officers were conducting surveillance at a large street racing and drifting event on East Grand Boulevard near the GM Factory Zero plant. Police reported that a Dodge Charger collided with an unmarked police vehicle being used by undercover officers. Nineteen-year-old Michael Contrell Adams III exited the Charger and ran from the crash. Police stated Adams was armed with a handgun, ignored commands identifying the officers as police, and pointed the gun at an undercover officer, who then fired multiple shots, fatally wounding him. A handgun was recovered near the crash scene, and the Wayne County Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide.
In September 2021, Adams' family filed a $20 million federal wrongful death lawsuit alleging Adams was unarmed, that the undercover officer never identified himself as police, and that Adams was shot twice in the back while running away. The lawsuit further alleged the handgun recovered at the scene was not in Adams' possession and challenged the department's account of the shooting. The family also criticized Detroit police for failing to release the identities of the involved officers and nearby surveillance video.
The shooting became the subject of public demonstrations and calls for accountability. On the first anniversary of Adams' death, family members and community activists renewed demands for release of additional evidence and transparency regarding the investigation. In September 2023, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office concluded the undercover officer's use of deadly force was legally justified and declined to file criminal charges. The lawsuit settled for $2.5 million.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://voiceofdetroit.net/2021/09/29/detroit-undercover-cops-murdered-michael-adams-iii-19-and-unarmed-on-aug-8-says-20m-lawsuit/
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/attorney-suing-detroit-police-claims-man-fatally-shot-was-unarmed-chief-says-he-pointed-gun-first
https://www.waynecounty.com/elected/prosecutor/no-charges-to-issue-in-fatal-police-shooting-after-east.aspx
https://www.deadlinedetroit.com/articles/28991/teen_killed_by_detroit_police_in_drag_racing_incident_was_unarmed_lawsuit_alleges
https://www.bridgedetroit.com/detroit-teens-family-demands-justice-one-year-after-he-was-killed-by-police/
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/lawsuit-alleges-man-who-detroit-police-say-pointed-gun-at-undercover-officers-was-unarmed-when-killed
https://wdet.org/2021/10/06/Teenager-Killed-by-Undercover-Police-Was-Unarmed-New-Lawsuit-Alleges/
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2023/09/01/prosecutors-detroit-police-officers-justified-in-2-fatal-shootings-kiazia-miller/70740033007/