Page 6 - Wayne Dispatch Pages

Officers acted in self defense

in shooting of Wayne man

The following is a press release could be seen coming closer to both
from the Wayne County Prosecutor’s officers, who were standing just out-
Office regarding the shooting and side the doorway in the hall. Officer
death of Wayne resident, John Zook, B then fired both his Taser and serv-
Jr. ice weapon simultaneously as they
The official statement was re- quickly retreated deeper into the
leased on Wednesday, November hallway. Mr. Zook was standing in
13th. the doorway just vacated by the offi-
“Wayne Police Officers Acted in cers less than one second earlier,
Lawful Self-Defense: On June 18, still holding the knife in his right
2024, at approximately 2:35 p.m., hand. Mr. Zook refused to relinquish
Wayne Police Department officers re- his knife and was shot four times
sponded to an apartment building in and fell into the hallway with the
the 35000 block of West Michigan Av- knife still in his right hand.
enue in Wayne, Michigan for a re- The officers immediately called
ported attempted suicide. A man at for medical assistance. Mr. Zook
that location, John Zook, Jr., 40, of died shortly thereafter. Mr. Zook was
Wayne had called 911 and reported later found to have at least 54 stab
that he just tried to kill himself by wounds to his neck, chest, and ab-
cutting himself all over with a knife. domen. Mr. Zook’s child slept
He further reported that he had his through the event and officers
four- year-old child in the apartment quickly removed the child from the
with him. He said that he had been apartment unharmed.
diagnosed with schizophrenia and In Michigan, police officers have
was not on medication because he the same right to self-defense and de-
had stopped taking it some time ago. fense of others as any other person.
The two first responding officers Michigan’s legal standard to use
always had operable body cameras deadly force in self-defense or the de-
while responding to the scene. Offi- fense of others is whether the person
cers A and B knocked at the apart- using force is reasonably in fear of
ment door. *Upon opening the door imminent death or great bodily harm
Mr. Zook was holding a knife in his upon them or someone nearby.
right hand with the handle facing up- At the time officers used force
ward and the blade downward. Mr. they objectively knew that Mr. Zook
Zook was shirtless and appeared to was armed with a knife, which
be standing approximately six to would be legally considered a dan-
eight feet away from officers with nu- gerous weapon. Mr. Zook was appar-
merous visible cut wounds on his ently actively suffering a mental
torso. Officer A then pointed a Taser health crisis, was not acting ration-
at Mr. Zook and Officer B had his ally, and just attempted to kill him-
service weapon. self. He was not responding to
Both officers repeatedly told Mr. commands while standing armed a
Zook to drop his knife. During this very short distance from the officers.
time Mr. Zook walked back and They also knew that Mr. Zook’s
forth between the area just inside the young child was present in the apart-
door close to the officers and deeper ment with him.
into the adjacent kitchen, while hold- The officers did not use deadly
ing the knife in his right hand. After force until Mr. Zook objectively
fifteen seconds of commands Officer posed an imminent threat to their
A told Mr. Zook he would be tased. safety when he came toward them
Mr. Zook did not drop the knife and after unsuccessfully trying to use a
instead walked toward the officers. Taser to disarm him. The facts and
Officer A attempted to use his Taser, evidence in this case show that shoot-
but it did not take effect when Mr. ing was justified and the officers
Zook was standing a short distance acted in lawful self-defense under
away. Michigan law. As a result, the Wayne
Within seconds, Officer B drew County Prosecutor’s Office has deter-
his Taser with his left hand while mined that no charges will issue in
still pointing his service weapon at this matter and the warrant request
Mr. Zook. Simultaneously, Mr. Zook is denied.”
6 · December 2024 · The Wayne Dispatch