No Charges for Deputies in Fatal Ypsilanti Shooting

Jenuwine, 34, died after three deputies fired into his van following a roughly 14-minute pursuit in Ypsilanti. Deputies had been responding to reports of a white van being driven erratically and information that a gun might be inside. During the chase, the van collided with a sheriff’s vehicle and overturned after a deputy used a vehicle maneuver to stop it.

As deputies approached, one shouted that Jenuwine had a gun. Three deputies fired about 34 rounds over seven seconds. Officers later found Jenuwine dead inside the van. State investigators found no firearm, but noted debris inside, including long, dark objects that may have appeared weapon-like.

The medical examiner identified seven bullet injuries and substantial cocaine levels in Jenuwine’s system. Two of the wounds would have been fatal within seconds to minutes. The family’s attorney has said an independent autopsy concluded that he died after being struck by seven bullets and losing blood.

Nessel said the deputies reasonably perceived an immediate danger based on what they knew at the time, even though that assessment proved mistaken. Michigan law allows deadly force when an officer honestly and reasonably believes it is needed to prevent imminent death or serious injury, the attorney general’s office said.

The sheriff’s office said its internal investigation will continue. Four deputies remain on leave while that review is pending.

No Charges After Deputies Kill Unarmed Man in Ypsilanti

John Jenuwine was unarmed when three Washtenaw County deputies fired about 34 rounds into his overturned van, killing him after a 14-minute chase in Ypsilanti. The decision not to bring criminal charges puts the officers’ mistaken perception of danger ahead of the deadly outcome for a man who had no firearm.

Deputies had received reports about a white van and information suggesting a gun could be inside. After the van crashed into a sheriff’s vehicle and overturned, an officer shouted that Jenuwine had a gun. Investigators later found no weapon, though they described debris that could have looked like a weapon.

Nessel said the officers’ belief that danger was immediate and credible was justified by the situation. State law permits deadly force when officers honestly and reasonably believe it is necessary to stop imminent death or serious injury, even if that belief is wrong. But the case leaves a stark question about accountability when a mistaken assumption leads to a fatal volley of gunfire.

The medical examiner found seven gunshot wounds, two of them rapidly fatal, and high levels of cocaine in Jenuwine’s system. The sheriff’s office says its internal review is ongoing, and four deputies remain on leave pending its outcome.

Michigan Law Protects Deputies Who Faced Perceived Deadly Threat

Washtenaw County deputies will not be criminally charged for firing on John Jenuwine’s van after a dangerous 14-minute pursuit, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said. Investigators found no gun, but the legal question was whether the deputies reasonably believed they faced an imminent threat when one shouted that Jenuwine was armed.

The chase began after reports of a white van being driven erratically and information that a gun might be inside. The van collided with a sheriff’s vehicle and overturned. Three deputies then fired about 34 shots over seven seconds. Investigators later found debris in the van, including long, dark pieces that may have appeared to be a weapon.

Nessel said Michigan law allows officers to use deadly force when they honestly and reasonably believe it is needed to prevent imminent death or serious injury, even if their understanding of the danger proves mistaken. The decision applies that standard to what deputies perceived in a rapidly unfolding encounter, rather than judging their actions solely by what investigators found afterward.

Jenuwine, 34, suffered seven gunshot wounds; two would have caused death within minutes. The medical examiner also found high levels of cocaine in his system. The sheriff’s office says its internal investigation continues, with four deputies remaining on leave until it is completed.