Detroit police chief after Sunday shootings: 'Tailgating, drinking and guns, they don't mix'

Detroit police confirmed two people were shot, one killed and another in critical condition, following a fight in Eastern Market near Ford Field on Sunday evening.

Detroit Police Chief James White said officers arrested a man from the Oakland County suburb of Oak Park, Michigan, who is in his 30s and is licensed to carry a gun. Eastern Market is a popular tailgate destination for Detroit Lions fans. Hundreds flock to the market during game days. On Sunday, the Lions hosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 p.m. local time.

“Tailgating, drinking, and guns. They don’t mix,” White said.

White said a fight between two men escalated about 4:30 p.m. at one of the buildings known as Shed 6 at the outdoor market. They put up hands in preparation to fight when the suspect pulled out a gun and fired at least two rounds, White said.

The man the suspect was fighting — a Detroit man in his 40s — was killed. Another Detroiter, a man in his 20s, was shot and was hospitalized in critical condition. Nearby officers directing outbound traffic from the Lions game responded to the shooting, arrested the suspect, and recovered two guns, White said.

All things Lions: Latest Detroit Lions news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

On the scene, White was troubled by what he described as a lack of conflict resolution.

“It shouldn’t have led to this,” he said.