The General Motors Co.'s Romulus Engine Plant was evacuated Friday morning due to a gunman inside the facility. As of 7:30 a.m., police were reportedly on the scene negotiating with the unnamed employee.
The General Motors Co.'s Romulus Engine Plant was evacuated Friday morning due to a gunman inside the facility.DETROIT- The General Motors Co.'s Romulus Engine Plant was evacuated Friday morning due to a reported gunman inside the facility.
The incident started at about 6 a.m. inside the facility, located about 25 miles southwest of Detroit at 36880 Ecorse Road in Romulus.
Initially, officials thought it was a real weapon, but Romulus Police Sgt. Corey Sadler said the man was threatening suicide with a "starter pistol," the equivalent of an adult cap gun.
Sadler said it was a .22-caliber weapon that "makes a loud noise" but doesn't fire bullets, often used for show or in sporting events.
Police entered the portion of the plant where the man was last seen, located him and took him into custody without issue.
The suspect is currently being detained at a hospital where he is receiving a mental evaluation.
Romulus police officials have not determined if he will be arrested and charged upon completion of the exam.
Fire crews and police from neighboring Van Buren Township assisted at the scene.
"They had a pretty good evacuation plan in place," said Sadler.
In a statement to MLive.com, GM officials said the situation was elevated to management who took the "right precautions by evacuating the facility and calling police."
GM said employees are safe and have returned to work at the 1.4 million-square-foot plant, which employs nearly 900 people.
Hourly employees at the facility are represented by UAW Local 163. The plant, which opened in 1976, produces a variety of V6 and V8 engines that power GM's portfolio.
The incident comes about seven months after a Chrysler Group LLC employee was fatally stabbed at the Auburn Hills-based automaker's Jefferson North plant at 2010 Conner St. in Detroit on Sept. 20. The murder suspect, who fled the plant, was found dead on Belle Isle after allegedly committing suicide.
MLive Detroit reporter Gus Burns contributed to this article.
Email Michael Wayland: MWayland@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/MikeWayland