DETROIT _ A man police label as a serial killer shot himself Monday while police were pursuing him through backyards in a Detroit suburb, police say.
Kenyel Brown, 40, was wanted in relation to six deaths, two carjackings and one nonfatal shooting in and around Detroit, Detroit Police Chief James Craig told news media Monday afternoon.
Brown was spotted about 1:30 p.m. at an adult bookstore on Detroit's 8 Mile Road, Craig said.
Brown had been there before and a clerk also recognized him from news coverage of the police hunt for Brown, Craig said.
Police responded and got word that Brown had crossed into Oak Park, north of Detroit, Craig said.
While conducting a K-9 search of the area, police spotted Brown jumping fences in a neighborhood, Craig said. Then there was a single gunshot in the 20000 block of Ridgedale Street in Oak Park.
Brown was in critical condition and being treated at a local hospital as of Monday afternoon, Craig said.
Craig said the dayslong search for Brown was challenging, with police seeking him around the clock and at multiple locations _ including one in Highland Park in recent days _ that didn't pan out.
Craig called Brown a "serial killer" previously, he said, and considered Brown dangerous.
"The good news is no one else got hurt," he said. "Certainly, this could've been a very tragic situation whether we had encountered him at the bookstore or if one of our officers had first."
Police suspect Brown is connected to three deaths in River Rouge, one on Jan. 8 and two on Feb. 2; a death in Highland Park on Feb. 18; and two fatal shootings in Detroit, on Feb. 20 and Feb. 22, Craig said. The carjackings took place on Feb. 21 in Detroit, within 19 minutes of one another, he said.
Hours before Brown shot himself Monday, Craig said the killings weren't random and may include robbery, disputes that turned violent and drug-related matters.
"You can continue to run, you can hide for a while, but we will find you," he said of Brown and those who might aid him.
Speaking Monday afternoon, Craig reiterated plans to track down anyone who aided Brown.
"We believe there were some people that were aiding him, concealing him," he said. "We're going to pursue that as well."
Brown previously served 10 years in prison for manslaughter, Craig said.
U.S. Marshals had increased the reward for information leading to Brown's arrest to $10,000 ahead of his capture.
