Michelle P. Hill, 61, is being sought for questioning in connection with shots fired at Central Precinct Sergeant Michael Willis at 4:30 a.m. today as he attempted to speak to an assault suspect at the intersection of Delta Avenue and Cheatham Place.
Sergeant Willis, a 10-year MNPD veteran, did not return fire due to the darkness and not knowing whether anyone else was outside in the area.
The man who fired at Sergeant Willis had fled from a Chevrolet Impala with two blown tires after pulling into a nearby grocery store parking lot. The Impala is registered to Michelle Hill.
The police department’s involvement in this case began at 4:05 a.m. when a citizen called to report that a topless woman had run up to his car on I-24 west at the Jefferson Street exit yelling that a man was trying to kill her. That woman had gotten out of the Impala. A citizen followed the Impala as the driver proceeded around Nissan Stadium, to 1st Avenue and then to Jefferson Street. The citizen watched as the Impala pulled into a grocery store parking lot at 800 Monroe Street. The driver got out and ran away. The citizen described him as a bald black man wearing a white T-shirt and khaki shorts.
Minutes later, Sergeant Willis spotted a man matching that exact description walking in the area of Delta Avenue and Cheatham Place. Body camera footage shows that as Sergeant Willis attempted to speak to the man, he fired a shot, ran, and then fired a second shot.
The 50-year-old woman from the interstate told officers that a man broke the window on her car while she was parked at a Fesslers Lane market shortly before 4 a.m. and attempted to drag her out of the vehicle. She said she left her car and got into the Impala. She reported that the driver threatened to kill her and that she was able to leave the car when it slowed for an exit ramp. She said the driver grabbed her shirt, causing it to rip from her body.
The woman said she did not know who the assailant was; however, prior MNPD reports reflect she and Michelle Hill are acquaintances.
Anyone seeing Hill or knowing his whereabouts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.
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Michelle Hill, 61
Sgt. Michael Willis