The Muskegon County Prosecutor’s office said Wednesday that two state troopers were ‘justified in their use of force’ during a shootout that left one man dead.
According to a dispositional report, the shooting took place in Laketon Township on April 4th, after a teenage girl had called 911 to report a home invasion. During the 911 call, the teen, who was home alone at the time, locked herself in her bedroom and hid, while 37-year-old Joseph Miller moved around the house.
The dispatcher sent two Michigan State Police Troopers to the home.
In the report, Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson says, dashboard camera, body camera and doorbell camera video all show Miller jumping from a window and shooting at a trooper who had been knocking at the front door, who then returned fire.
During the shootout, the other trooper shot at Miller hitting him in the chest, however, as Miller laid on the ground, the report says he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Hilson writes,
"The two Troopers who quickly arrived to the home invasion in progress not only conducted themselves with professionalism and skill, they both exhibited the utmost bravery," the report reads. "The Troopers’ actions were entirely lawful and they exhibited the highest excellence of conduct in the performance of their duties. On behalf of the citizens of Muskegon we thank them for their heroic actions."
Both officers have returned to active duty.
Coincidentally, the shooting occurred on April 4th, the same day that Patrick Lyoya was shot and killed by a Grand Rapids Police Officer. The Kent County Prosecutor has yet to make a decision on potential charges in the case .
