On Tuesday afternoon, an officer in Wayne was forced to shoot and kill a 40-year-old man who was experiencing a mental health crisis. The incident occurred at Newberry Square Apartments on Michigan Avenue near S. Wayne Road just before 2:40 p.m.
The man had called 911 to inform the dispatcher about his mental health crisis and being off his medication. When officers arrived, they found the man with self-inflicted cuts on his body and carrying a kitchen knife. Despite multiple commands and two uses of a taser, the man charged at officers, leading one of them to fire several shots that resulted in his death.
Fortunately, a 4-year-old child inside the home was unharmed and handed over to a family member. No other injuries were reported. The incident is being investigated by Michigan State Police as per Wayne Police Department policy.
Deputy Chief Finley Carter explained that the officer who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave. He emphasized that the goal is never to take anyone’s life but that the situation sadly escalated to that point. Carter also mentioned that police had responded to another mental health incident involving the man in 2022.
