Oakland County Deputy Sheriff Dead: Michigan Teen Pleads Guilty

A tragic story continues to play out in Oakland County following the murder of Deputy Sheriff Brad Reckling. The deputy was a husband, father of three daughters with another baby on the way, and a veteran of the department serving for nine years.
According to reports, the deputy sheriff was looking for a stolen vehicle on Detroit's east side. In a patrol car that was unmarked on June 22nd of last year, Reckling was searching for a stolen Chevrolet Equinox that was taken from Madison Heights' Red Oaks Water Park.

Later that night the officer came across the stolen SUV. As he pulled up behind the suspects, they jumped out of the vehicle and started shooting at him.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, his deputy was shot in the chest, torso and head. The day after the incident, the Sheriff said "It was an ambush."

Karim Moore, an 18-year-old from Clinton Township, was charged with several counts including lying to police and resisting arrest. At the time nobody else was charged in the case.

Yesterday (March 17th, 2025) Moore pleaded guilty to several counts, including receiving and concealing stolen property, conducting a criminal enterprise, and a firearm felony involving the death of the deputy sheriff. Karim Moore faces three to 20 years behind bars for his roll in the incident. Another suspect in the case, Ramon DeBose, is facing life in prison for his roll.

Former Detroit Police Chief James White said at a press conference that "Deputy Reckling was a hero, he was an absolute hero. He laid his life on the line. He was in our city pursuing someone for auto theft, stumbled onto something much bigger than he even thought and made the ultimate sacrifice."