Prosecutor says Wayne police were justified in fatally shooting John Zook Jr., dismisses charges

WAYNE, Michigan (FOX 2) – No charges will be filed against Wayne police officers who shot and killed John Zook Jr. Earlier this year, the Wayne County Prosecutor announced Wednesday.

Police said Zook, 40, personally called 911 and informed the operator that he was in the midst of a mental health crisis and had gone off his medication on June 18. When officers arrived, they found Zook in distress and holding a kitchen knife.

Zook’s 4-year-old son was home when the incident occurred at the Newberry Square Apartments at Newberry Street and Michigan Avenue. Police also said Zook cut himself several times in an attempt to commit suicide. The prosecutor’s office said there were more than 50 stab wounds.

Officers ordered Zook to drop the gun for 15 seconds before telling him he would be Tased, according to the prosecutor’s office.

One of the officers tried to Tase Zook, but it didn’t work. Meanwhile, another police officer, holding the police firearm in one hand, took out his stun gun. The prosecutor’s office said that Zook approached the police officers with a knife, and the person with the Taser fired the gun at the same time.

The prosecutor said Zook was still holding the knife, which led officers to shoot him four times. After the conflict, officers helped Zook and took his child, who was sleeping during the conflict, away from the apartment.

After the shooting, Zook’s family argued that they did not think he had filed a police report. They also requested the release of body camera footage of the interaction. The video was never shared publicly.

The prosecutor’s office presented the justification for its decision not to file charges against the officers by publishing, in part, the following statements:

“In Michigan, police officers have the same right to self-defense and defense of others as other persons. Michigan’s legal standard for using deadly force in self-defense or defense of others is whether the person using the force reasonably fears imminent death or self-defense or the defense of others.” causing great bodily harm to someone.

“When the officers used force, they knew objectively that Mr. Zook was armed with a knife, which would be legally considered a dangerous weapon. Mr. Zook was apparently actively having a mental health crisis, was not acting rationally, and was simply trying to kill her. He was a short distance away from the officers armed with a gun.” He was not responding to commands. They also knew that Mr. Zook’s young child was in the apartment with him.

“The officers did not use deadly force until Mr. Zook objectively posed an imminent threat to their safety when he approached them after attempting to use a stun gun to subdue himself. The facts and evidence in this case indicate that the shooting was justified and the officers acted in lawful self-defense under Michigan law.” They made it happen.”

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