An officer-involved shooting in Benton Harbor led to an 18-year-old woman being shot in the hand when she reportedly drove her car toward a crowd. Yesterday, Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety (BHDPS) officers encountered a disturbance involving a Chevy Malibu, with the car initially driving east on Vineyard Avenue before making a dangerous U-turn back toward the crowd of people, sideswiping two individuals in the process, WZZM 13 News reports.
The sequence of events culminated with the car speeding towards more bystanders, and an officer, who was standing next to his patrol vehicle, according to information obtained by FOX 17 News. Fearing for his safety, the officer discharged his firearm at the vehicle as it accelerated in his direction, resulting in the driver, identified as Elajah Walker of Benton Harbor, sustaining a gunshot wound to her right hand.
Following the incident, Walker was given immediate medical attention onsite before being transported to a local hospital for further treatment. She was then lodged at the Berrien County Jail, with police stating the cause of the disturbance was believed to be a "love triangle." As per protocol, the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave while Michigan State Police investigate the potential criminality of the officer-involved shooting. "The Officer was between the car and his cruiser as the former accelerated in his direction. The officer fired at the car, hitting the driver’s right hand," FOX 17 News reported.
The BHDPS has announced that footage captured from body and patrol car cameras will be reviewed and is expected to be released after authorization from the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office. In response to the shooting, BHDPS received assistance from the Benton Charter Township Police, the St. Joseph Department of Public Safety, and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation and at the scene of the incident, according to WSBT.
