The case involving former Michigan State Police Sergeant Brian Keely, accused of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of Samuel Sterling, may potentially shift from the state to the federal court system. Keely's defense team is seeking to rapidly move this to federal jurisdiction, claiming that his affiliation with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force edges the case into the purview of federal authorities. However, this request is contested by the prosecution, underscoring Keely's primary identification as a state employee.
Currently, the matter rests on the decision of U.S. District Court Judge Hala Y. Jarbou, who, after a three-hour evidentiary hearing, has not yet issued a ruling. Keely's defense, according to a report by FOX 17 News, argues the case falls under federal jurisdiction due to his special deputization and involvement with the federal task force during the incident. However, the Michigan Attorney General's Office, in response, as per WZZM 13, contends Keely was never a federal agent and that the case should remain at the state level.
Meanwhile, in Kentwood District Court, Judge Amanda Sterkenburg has found probable cause, as reported by WOODTV, to send Keely to trial on charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after reviewing evidence, including video footage of the crash that resulted in Sterling's death. "There is no dispute that defendant Keely was driving a motor vehicle in pursuit of the decedent on April 17, 2024, that he struck the decedent with his vehicle or that the decedent’s death came as a result of the injuries sustained in that collision," Judge Sterkenburg said.
Keely's defense team emphasized that there was no intent to harm, with arguments suggesting the former sergeant had meant to merely block Sterling’s path, not to end his flight with fatal force. To significantly challenge this perspective, prosecutors highlighted evidence indicating Keely steered his SUV toward Sterling and, as WOODTV reported, created "a very high risk of death or great bodily harm."
