DETROIT – When a gunman entered the Detroit Police 6th Precinct Sunday and began firing, there were civilians in the building.
One of them was Modreci Draper, from Draper's Shoe Repair in downtown Detroit.
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Draper said he often takes care of Detroit police officers' shoes, and he was at the precinct Sunday to pick up a pair of boots.
Draper said he was talking with Officer David Anderson near the precinct desk when the shooter, Lamar Moore, walked in. Draper said he briefly saw the sawed-off shotgun pointed at his head and then suddenly swing to the right and fire.
"Just like that I felt something go past my face. My recollection is of it was I'm talking to Anderson and all of a sudden he's not standing near me no more," Draper said.
He said it all happened very quickly.
"At that point, everyone's hitting the ground. I look over to the left and Anderson is down. My ears are kind of deaf because of the shotgun blast," Draper said.
At that point, the gunman hopped over the precinct desk.
"He hopped over the counter like he was Spiderman. The guy's over 200 pounds and he hops over the counter like it's not even there," Draper said.
Draper called 911 while officers fired at Moore. He said Commander Brian Davis was fighting with Moore, even though Davis was bleeding from a shotgun wound. Draper compared Davis's actions to the hero of the TV show "24."
"The man saved everyone in that precinct. An African-American Jack Bauer, straight up. That's how he handled it. He saved those officers that day," Draper said.
Draper said he takes his 4-year-old son with him on many of his trips to the precincts. On Sunday, his son stayed home.
"I'm just thankful I didn't take him up there. I'm very thankful. The schedule just didn't work out for me to get him," Draper said.
Draper said there were other civilians inside the precinct at the time, but the gunman only took aim at police officers.