Detroit Police Chief James White told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that officers had shot dead suspect Dwayne McDonald, 62, during an exchange of fire at an apartment in Owen Street, east of Woodward Avenue, at about 3 p.m. the same day.

McDonald had earlier been named as a person of interest over the double homicide of his wife Elaine Fizer, 57, and her disabled daughter Daunya, both of whom were shot dead at their home on Christmas Day morning.

White said Detroit officers arrived at the apartment to serve a search warrant. McDonald then shot his gun and attending officers “returned fire,” according to the police chief.

Speaking to the media, he said: “As you can see, this is an active scene and we are still gathering information.”

The chief said his officers were investigating “heinous acts that occurred on Christmas morning where the mother and her 13-year-old handicapped child were murdered inside of their home.”

He later added: “The officers attempted to make access to one of the apartments where they were greeted by Mr. McDonald who was armed. A shot was fired at which time officers returned fire striking Mr. McDonald and he is deceased at the scene.”

Following the shooting, White praised his officers: “Not the outcome we had hoped for but the officers were courageous. They’ve worked tirelessly for 24 hours plus since the heinous act that occurred in our city.”

Elaine was Daunya’s adoptive mother and a “caregiver” as well as a “person who loved children and loved giving back to the community,” White said.

A GoFundMe has been set up for the mother and daughter to help their funeral costs, according to a woman called Margaret, who claimed to be Elaine’s daughter.

On the page, she said: “Hi this is Margaret daughter of Elaine Fizer this had been [an] unfortunate situation for me that not only has my mother been taken away from me, but my sister too.

“I trying to raise as much money as soon as possible to help me in the process of grieving so we can have the proper burial services for my mother [and] sister.”

As of Wednesday morning, the GoFundMe page had raised more than $3,000 out of a $10,000 target.

The homicide task force and Michigan State Police will now handle the investigation into the shooting.

Newsweek has contacted the Detroit Police Department for comment.