In what was described by authorities as an "ambush," a nine-year veteran of the Oakland County (Michigan) Sheriff's Office was fatally shot and killed Saturday night while pursuing a stolen car in Detroit.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard described the loss of Deputy Bradley Reckling, 30, as not just another tragedy for the department but a gut punch in a series of gut punches in recent years — which included three mass shootings, one as recent as a week ago — something "we don't obviously want to have to talk about or ever have to face. But we have."

Bouchard said the events of Saturday night, saying instead of giving up or running, the stolen car suddenly stopped on the city's east side, the Detroit News reports.

"The car suddenly stopped. Individuals exited that stolen vehicle and opened fire on our deputy. It was an ambush," Bouchard said.

The vehicle that was pursued, a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, belonged to a Rochester Hills resident and had been stolen Saturday afternoon, Bouchard said. Reckling was one of three detectives from the office's auto theft unit searching for the vehicle in Detroit and located it before 10:50 p.m.

Detroit police and Michigan State Police flooded the area. Law enforcement quickly set up a perimeter, and three people were taken into custody.

Reckling is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and children ages 5, 4, and 1, and his wife is expecting another child, Bouchard said.