FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 21, 2021
Contact: Ryan Bridges, bridgesr@kalamazoocity.org, 269-762-2922
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety officer-involved shooting
Kalamazoo, Mich. – At approximately 2 a.m. on Friday, May 21, an officer from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS), was patrolling the area of Florence and Burrell.
KDPS officers were in the area due to a shooting in the 600 block of Florence that occurred three hours earlier – at approximately 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 20 – where an individual was shot and injured. The victim in that case refused to provide information and refused medical attention from KDPS.
In the same location where the earlier victim was located, an officer heard yelling and observed what appeared to be a verbal dispute.
Upon arriving on scene, the officer was informed that one of the parties involved in the dispute had a gun.
The officer approached and observed an armed individual. The officer gave verbal commands to “drop the gun.” When the subject failed to drop the weapon, the officer fired one shot, striking the individual in the hip. The officer then recovered the gun – which was loaded with an extended magazine – and rendered aid to the victim.
The injured individual – a 47-year-old Kalamazoo resident – was taken to a local hospital, where they are currently in stable condition.
To ensure a thorough and impartial investigation, the Michigan State Police (MSP) has been called in to take over the investigation.
The involved officer will be on paid administrative leave while the MSP conducts their investigation, per KDPS policy.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case will be turned over to the Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for a review of the officer’s actions.
All parties involved are committed to transparency and completing this process as quickly as possible.
Below are photos of the weapon that was recovered from the scene.
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