By Matt Underwood 
The 17-minute police body cam video offers a raw, unfiltered look at an officer-involved shooting and a series of home invasions, prompting a wave of reactions, interpretations, and debates. The video details a tense situation beginning with a suspect armed with a knife holding a homeowner at knifepoint.
The officers, attempting to de-escalate the situation, repeatedly order the suspect to drop the knife and release the victim. When the suspect releases the homeowner and flees the scene, the situation escalates. A pursuit commences, and the officers continue to issue commands for the suspect to stop and surrender.
During the chase, the officers discharge their firearms, with several rounds fired at the fleeing suspect. The suspect, despite being hit, continues his erratic behavior and is later found trying to enter a third residence, eventually tackled and apprehended. Medical aid is administered, and the suspect is transported to a hospital.
Following the shooting, the officers involved were placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure in such cases. This is a routine measure, a procedural step after any officer-involved shooting to allow for investigation and time for the officers to process the incident.
The suspect’s actions, including breaking into multiple homes and taking a hostage with a knife, are at the heart of the controversy. The legal grounds for using lethal force is the central topic of discussion. Is running away from a crime grounds for lethal force?
The incident raises questions about the justification for using lethal force, especially in situations involving fleeing suspects. Critics and commentators raise the crucial question of whether the officers’ actions were warranted given the circumstances. The comments suggest that police are often required to have a good faith belief that a suspect poses a threat to the lives of others.
The video is a harsh reminder that the police do not have to know the letter of the law while in the heat of a moment. In this situation, it’s a hard call to make in the moment.
The fact that the suspect had already broken into multiple homes, held a homeowner at knifepoint, and then tried to enter another home further complicates the discussion. The fact the suspect was running into the public, breaking in and endangering the lives of others, lends credence to the argument that lethal force was justified, but also that there could have been a different outcome.
The debate touches on the use of force, emphasizing that the officers are not aiming willy-nilly in the residential area. Whether the use of force was appropriate or excessive is a subject that will likely be debated at length.
The context, the events leading up to the shooting, the suspect’s actions, and the officers’ response are being looked at by those in charge. The Michigan State Police are conducting an investigation.