Grand Blanc View

Suspect in double police shooting named


BURTON – The man who shot and wounded two police officers, Dec. 21, before being shot and killed when they returned fire has been identified as Brendan Pinkston, 23, of Burton.

Pinkston was involved in a violent conformation with police after they responded to a report of a man wandering through yards in the 2100 block of Bristol Road carrying a handgun.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson held a press briefing Wednesday where he named Pinkston as the suspect who shot and wounded Burton police officer Dalton Christie and Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Fachting after they pursued him on foot through the neighborhood at about 2 p.m., Tuesday.

The two officers returned fire, shooting and killing Pinkston. Both officers were rushed the Hurley Medical Center where Christie was reported in fair condition and Fachting was critical following three hours in surgery, Tuesday.

Swanson showed video taken from home surveillance footage showing a man identified as Pinkston wandering around a backyard, wearing a t-shirt despite the temperatures, appearing to look for someone while carrying a pistol in his right hand.

The sheriff said the shooting remains under investigation. Further details were not available. – G.G.