Detroit police are forced to release bodycam footage of fatal shooting of Hakim Littleton to show he was armed and fired at them - after protests erupted following his death

Video released by Detroit police shows a young man appearing to shoot at an officer at close range Friday before fellow officers opened fire, killing the suspect.

Police Chief James Craig told reporters as he released the video Friday evening that the suspect he identified as 20-year-old Hakeem Littleton was no more than 3 feet away when he began shooting.

'It's simply a miracle he wasn't struck in the head,' Craig said about the officer.

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Video footage shows Hakim Littleton in the red t-shirt standing by while is friend is arrested

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Seconds later, Littleton, 20, can be seen reaching down into his pocket to pull out a gun

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Bodycam footage shows Littleton reaching into his pants to pull out the loaded weapon

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Moments later he is seen firing at a police officer, left, standing around three feet away

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The office gives chase despite being fired upon during a frenetic few seconds

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The officer has Littleton on the ground despite him still firing 

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The incident led to officers fatally shooting 20-year-old Hakim Littleton

'He's a hero. He showed tremendous courage trying to apprehend an armed suspect. It's simply a miracle he's alive.' 

Hours earlier, around 300 converged at the site of the shooting on Detroit's west side, yelling at police and chanting 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Defund DPD!'

Several members of the crowd threw bottles, bricks and other projectiles at officers, who deployed tear gas and made eight arrests. 

Many of the protesters were carrying signs and chanting 'we want badge numbers,' and 'killer cops get out of town.' 

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Protesters march to the Detroit Police Department's 12th Precinct at Woodward and 7 Mile Rd. from W. McNichols and San Juan in Detroit

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Police officers form a wall, preventing protesters from passing by

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Police officers continue to protect the 12th Precinct even after protesters marched away, but then returned later

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Detroit Police Chief James Craig shows a photograph of the handgun used by Hakim Littleton, who shot at police officers at close range while they were arresting his friend

Craig said he wanted to released the videos promptly because of what he described as rumors about the shooting, which he said included erroneous social media postings that Littleton had been unarmed.

Craig said he released the video hours after the incident to quell 'a false narrative' that the shooting was unjustified. The 'erroneous information that was put out has incited violence,' he said.

The shooting occurred about 12:30pm as officers were investigating a Fourth of July block party shooting and arrested a different man, Darnell Sylvester, on an outstanding drug warrant, who did not resist.

Sylvester puts his hands up and complies with the officers. 

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An investigation into a mass shooting on the city's west side begat more violence Friday when police say a man shot at officers who returned fire, killing him

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A protester yells at police as he walks between them and police officers

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Detroit Police officers force protesters back near the scene where a shooting involving an officer occurred

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Detroit police officers detain a protester near the protests. Eight arrests were made overall

Police had no plans to arrest Littleton for anything, Craig said. 

Littleton initially appeared calm on the video, even raising his hands before suddenly reaching into his left pocket, pulling out a semi-automatic pistol, pointing and shooting it at the officer as they faced each other just a few feet away.

The officer then charges Littleton, as other officers open fire. 

Craig said the officer closest to Littleton hadn't even had a chance to unholster his own weapon before the shooting started. 

In all, eight shots were fired over a span of five seconds, four by three different officers and four shots by Littleton, Craig said. He said Littleton continued to fire after he fell to the ground.   

All four shots fired by police hit Littleton, one in the head.

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Protestors march past the Detroit Police 12th precinct following a shooting involving an officer, resulting in the death of 20-year-old Hakeem Littleton in Detroit, Michigan

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A planned protest at the Northwest Activities Center, part of ongoing protests against police brutality, was switched to the site where Littleton was killed. A protester is arrested here

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Protestors chant at Detroit Police near the scene where a shooting involving an officer occurred

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About an hour into the protest, dozens of people began throwing projectiles at the officers who were amassed on San Juan. Others hurled insults at the cops

Craig said Littleton, who was on probation for an unarmed robbery, seemed to say something about not allowing officers to arrest his friend before he began firing.

Littleton was pronounced dead at a hospital. A gun and shell casings were recovered.

No officers were wounded. Those involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.

The other man taken into custody had an outstanding warrant. He is a suspect in a gang-related shooting on July 5 at a block party that left three people dead and five others wounded.

 In a statement Friday night, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said police footage demonstrated that the officers' actions were justified.

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At one point, the officers charged into the crowd, driving them back. Then, the officers deployed tear gas

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Friends and family react following the fatal shooting of a man who the city's police chief said fired at officers investigating a Fourth of July block party shooting, in Detroit

'The City of Detroit was one of the first in America to outfit its police cars and officers with cameras for this type of incident. The video is clear that the officer was suddenly and unexpectedly fired upon,' he said in a tweet. 

'Public confidence requires citizens to be able to judge for themselves the actions of our officers. I commend Chief Craig for moving so quickly to release the video publicly.'

Protests have been held in the city and across the U.S. since the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, who was black and handcuffed, died after a white police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck for almost nine minutes even as Floyd begged for air and eventually stopped moving.

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Residents in the area confront Detroit Police officers following the fatal shooting of Littleton

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Kamya Gorden, right, is comforted by her mother, Pursha Gorden, following the fatal shooting of a man