LANSING, MI — In a chilling sequence of events, the Jackson Police Department has shared new footage of a high-speed chase that ended with a fatal police shooting and the discovery of explosive devices this month.
A gripping video reveals a standoff between the suspect’s minivan and police vehicles, with an intense exchange of at least 70 gunshots in a mere half-minute.
The chase ignited around 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 6, following reports that Jacob Austin Hikes, 31, had shot his brother in Lenawee County. Authorities tracked him to Cooper Street in Jackson using a monitoring device.
The pursuit spiraled as shots rang out, hitting several homes and vehicles, though miraculously sparing bystanders from harm.
In a startling twist, the suspect was seen throwing pipe bombs from his moving vehicle. Subsequent searches uncovered six more pipe bombs inside the van, and a bystander’s video appeared to capture an explosion during the chase.
By 5:41 p.m., a sergeant from the Jackson Police Department was wounded by a bullet at Van Dorn and Elizabeth Street. The officer, who sustained injuries to his arm and body, was hospitalized in stable condition.
Police halted the suspect after a fierce exchange of gunfire. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
The event has ignited a broader conversation about the challenges faced by law enforcement and the community’s safety, as investigations probe deeper into the incident’s details.