In the early hours of a cold February morning in Detroit, the city's thin blue line was irrevocably pierced. On February 16, 2004, Police Officer Jennifer Timathy-Ann Fettig, a 26-year-old woman who had served with the Detroit Police Department for two and a half years, was senselessly murdered during a traffic stop. Assigned to the 4th Precinct, Fettig was on patrol with her partner, Officer Matthew Bowens, when they pulled over a vehicle on Gilbert Avenue.
What began as a seemingly routine stop quickly escalated into a violent and tragic encounter that would claim both of their lives.
As the two officers were in their patrol car calling in the license plate information, the driver of the stopped pickup truck, Eric Marshall, exited his vehicle. Armed with a. 40 caliber handgun, he approached the unsuspecting officers and opened fire. Officer Fettig was struck five times, and Officer Bowens was hit three times. The initial barrage was swift and brutal, leaving neither officer with the opportunity to return fire. In the immediate aftermath, a wounded Officer Bowens managed to exit the patrol car and call for assistance. However, Marshall reappeared and shot Bowens an additional six times before stealing his service weapon and fleeing the scene. A portion of the horrific event was captured by the patrol car's camera.
Both officers were rushed to Henry Ford Hospital. Officer Bowens, 21, was pronounced dead upon arrival. Officer Fettig fought for her life but succumbed to her wounds 12 hours later. The loss of the two young officers sent shockwaves through the Detroit community and law enforcement agencies far and wide. The pain was particularly acute for their families; Officer Fettig was survived by her parents and sister.
The investigation moved swiftly. Several hours after the shooting, authorities arrested Eric Marshall and his brother. The evidence against Marshall was overwhelming, including his driver's license which had been left in the officers' cruiser. He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Following a trial, Marshall was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His violent rampage ended behind bars, and he ultimately died in prison on October 15, 2010.
