Police Release Sketch of Corrections Officer's Suspected Killer

MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. (WJBK) -- A Michigan corrections officer is shot and killed outside his apartment complex in Madison Heights. Police are narrowing their search for his killer.

"His life was taken like a savage," said Clarence Hammond, Junior, the victim's father.

Monday night, Clarence Tariq Hammond's friends, fraternity brothers and family came together consoling each other in a time of tremendous grief.

The 33-year-old was a corrections officer who loved his job and did it well.

"He was a great guy. Laughed with him," said John Klimowicz. "We'd been involved in some stuff in the prison. He was there. I could trust him."

Above all, he was a father.

"He loved his children to life," Hammond, Junior said.

"I can't stop thinking about his kids," Klimowicz explained.

"If anything, I feel like they were cheated because we knew him better and longer," said sister Latoya Hammond.

Hammond got off work around ten o'clock Friday night. When he got back to his Madison Heights apartment shortly before midnight, police say a man approached him, demanded his belongings and then shot him in the head.

However, if you ask his family, this was no random robbery.

"I do believe he was targeted," said Hammond, Junior.

The killer may have been waiting in a nearby van. He shot Hammond, but didn't take his belongings. Plus, there was a person with the him at the time of the shooting. Police will only identify that person as a witness. The witness tells Hammond's family the killer was wearing a mask and he pulled it off just before he pulled the trigger.

The witness got away and helped police create a sketch of the suspected killer.

"We shouldn't have to continue on guessing or speculating," Hammond, Junior said.

If you recognize the person depicted in the sketch, call Madison Heights Police.