Prosecutors rule Michigan police shooting of suicidal man was justified

Kara Berg, The Detroit News on Nov 13, 2024

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DETROIT — No charges will be filed against a Wayne police officer who shot and killed 40-year-old John Zook Jr. after he called 911 and reported that he had just tried to die by suicide, according to Wayne County prosecutors.

Prosecutors said the officers acted in self-defense and the June 18 fatal shooting was justified, according to a press release issued Wednesday morning.

Wayne police officers responded to an apartment building in the 35000 block of West Michigan Avenue for a report that Zook had just tried to die by suicide by cutting himself all over with a knife, according to the press release. He told dispatchers he had a 4-year-old in the apartment with him, and he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia but had stopped taking his medication.

When police arrived, Zook opened the door, shirtless and holding a knife with the blade facing the floor, according to the press release. He had numerous cuts on his torso. One of the officers pointed their Taser at Zook and the other pointed his gun at him as they ordered Zook to drop the knife.

Zook did not drop the knife and walked toward the officers, according to the press release. An officer tried to use his Taser, but Zook was too close for it to work. The second officer drew his Taser, while still pointing his gun at Zook, and as Zook walked closer, fired both at the same time.

"At the time officers used force they objectively knew that Mr. Zook was armed with a knife, which would be legally considered a dangerous weapon," according to a press release from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office. "Mr. Zook was apparently actively suffering a mental health crisis, was not acting rationally, and just attempted to kill himself. He was not responding to commands while standing armed a very short distance from the officers."

The officers didn't use deadly force until Zook "objectively posed an imminent threat to their safety when he came toward them after unsuccessfully trying to use a Taser to disarm him."

Zook was shot four times after refusing to drop the knife, according to prosecutors. He died a short time later, and was found to have at least 54 stab wounds to his neck, chest and abdomen.

The child slept through the incident and was taken from the apartment unharmed, according to prosecutors.

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