An Eaton Rapids police officer will not face criminal charges in the fatal shooting of a man in late December, county officials announced Friday. Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney Douglas R. Lloyd said he reviewed a Michigan State Police investigation and concluded Officer Yutaka Benson was legally justified in using deadly force in the Dec. 30, 2025 encounter that killed Hunter James Palacios. The decision followed a months-long review of body camera footage, witness interviews and forensic testing.
In a press release, the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office said Michigan State Police submitted its investigation on March 19 and that a review of dash and body camera video, 911 calls and witness statements supported a finding of self-defense. Lloyd wrote that Benson had an "honest and reasonable belief that Palacios presented an immediate threat of death or serious injury," and said no criminal charges will be filed.
How the encounter unfolded
According to investigators, the chain of events started Dec. 30 when a neighbor called 911 to report suspicious activity at a Spicerville Highway home, prompting Michigan State Police units to respond. An Eaton Rapids officer then followed a blue Ford that took off from the area and later slammed into a guardrail near the Grand River at Main and Canal streets. Officers found Palacios near a dam structure about 200 feet from the wreck.
Investigators say Palacios repeatedly ignored commands, yelled that he had a gun and kept one hand buried inside his heavy coat while moving toward officers. A taser deployment did not stop him, and Benson fired after Palacios turned with a dark object in his hand, according to FOX47.
Why prosecutors cleared the officer
Prosecutors said body camera and dash camera recordings lined up with officers' written reports and that forensic work at the scene turned up 15 spent shell casings and two black cellphones. An autopsy found two gunshot wounds, including one that struck Palacios' heart. Toxicology testing showed cocaine, methamphetamine and THC in his system, findings the prosecutor said supported the conclusion that Benson reasonably feared for his safety, according to the Eaton County Prosecutor's Office.
Residents and witnesses react
Neighbors and witnesses described being stunned and saddened by the shooting, which shut down Canal Street into the early morning hours. One bystander later told investigators he heard officers shouting warnings before the gunfire.
Hoodline detailed the crash and subsequent foot pursuit, capturing the immediate community response and initial law-enforcement accounts.
What’s next
With Lloyd's decision, the county's criminal review is officially wrapped up, although the case is likely to revive familiar debates over use-of-force policies and how officers respond to people in crisis. WILX notes that Michigan State Police handled the investigation and that Lloyd, along with two chief assistant prosecutors, reviewed the file before announcing there would be no charges. The family and community leaders have not announced any legal response to the prosecutor's decision.
The county's full summary and Lloyd's written analysis are posted on the Eaton County website, and local outlets, including FOX47, have published timelines and the prosecutor's statement. For Eaton Rapids, the shooting remains a painful episode as residents and officials sort through what, if anything, should change next.
