A statement from the Michigan Department of Attorney General confirmed that the use of a firearm by a Michigan State Police (MSP) Trooper in May 2024 was deemed lawful and appropriate based on the circumstances. The announcement, made yesterday, emphasized that the trooper acted in self-defense and in defense of others during the incident in Buena Vista Charter Township.
The incident in question occurred when both Michigan State Police (MSP) and local Saginaw Police were dispatched to locate a suspect linked to an alleged shooting. During the operation, it became clear that there was a victim inside the suspect's vehicle, adding complexity to the already tense situation. As the situation developed, the trooper fired a single shot into the rear of the suspect's car after hearing gunshots from within the vehicle. This action effectively prevented further violence and led to the suspect's surrender.
In their thorough review process, as detailed by the Department's press release, the AG’s office considered multiple sources of evidence including dispatcher reports, 9-1-1 calls, dash-cam footage, and scene photographs. These artifacts collectively corroborated the narrative that the trooper, faced with a threat, responded in a way that was proportional to the situation at hand with the intention to preserve life and cease the threat posed by the suspect.
"An officer’s decision about the level of force necessary to control an individual will be based on the officer’s perception of the threat and the subject’s apparent ability to carry out that threat," the Attorney General's office articulated, in accordance with the principle that law enforcement may use force when required for public safety, while ensuring that it is proportional to the situation. The lack of further gunfire after the trooper’s shot indicates that the action taken was effective in neutralizing the threat.
The Michigan Department of Attorney General has confirmed its willingness to lead or assist in investigations of officer-involved shootings at the request of county prosecutors or law enforcement agencies across the state.
