The Detroit Police Department recently gifted the son of a fallen officer a car for his 16th birthday, less than a month after his father was killed in the line of duty.
Darian Courts, son of slain Officer Loren Courts, was presented with a brand-new gray 2018 Chevy Malibu at the Feldman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram auto dealership in Woodhaven by the Detroit Police Department.
The car was paid for by donations from people with the Detroit Police Department, Wayne County Sheriff’s Office, the dealership and other local businesses.
A Facebook post from the department showed Darian happily enjoying his new car.
Police say Officer Courts was saving up to buy his son a car before his death on July 6.
According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, Officer Courts and his partner, Officer Amanda Hudgens, were responding that evening to a 9-1-1 call of shots fired near Joy Road and Marlowe in Detroit’s west side when they were ambushed.
The shots came from an apartment window above.
Courts, a five-year veteran with the 2nd Precinct, was struck in the neck. Despite being mortally wounded, Courts put the car in reverse and jumped out of the car with his partner to take cover.
While Hudgens applied pressure to the wound in an attempt to save Courts, her back was to the shooter, who had come downstairs and exited the building while pointing his gun at the officers.
Fortunately, officers who arrived as backup shortly after the shooting began were able to take down the suspect.
Courts was then transported to Sinai Grace Hospital, where he died.
“He was a hero. He was a hero to our family. He is a hero to everyone who knew him,” said his aunt, Lisa Littleton.
“We will get these trigger-pullers, these felons, off the street in his honor,” Chief James White said after the shooting.
A vigil was held early in July after his death and was attended by around 200 people. His funeral was held on July 18.
He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and parents. His father is a former officer with the department and recently retired.
