No Criminal Charges Issued in Bitely Shooting

PA Stay finds use of force reasonable

From the Newaygo County Prosecutor’s Office:

August 24, 2021 -Newaygo County Prosecuting Attorney Worth Stay announced that no criminal charges would be issued regarding the shooting death of Johnny King on May 22, 2021, in the Bitely area. 

Several Michigan State Troopers responded to an address in Beaver Township, Newaygo County to investigate a report of a domestic violence. A suspect, Johnny King DOB 10/4/1957, was located in a fifth wheel trailer. Two troopers entered the trailer to speak with King. King became combative and pointed a rifle at the troopers. The troopers discharged their service weapons, striking King, who died at the scene. 

Stay found the officers acted in self-defense and that their use of force was reasonable. 
"Michigan law recognizes that any person may use deadly force to defend themselves or others in certain circumstances. If an individual has an honest and reasonable belief that they were in imminent danger of being killed or seriously injured, then an individual is permitted to use as much force as they believe is needed at the time to protect themselves." 

Prosecuting Attorney Stay continued, “The officers were in a small enclosed space, that of a fifth wheel trailer. In a short timeframe, the individual became confrontational and then reached for, and pointed at them, a weapon.... A reasonable officer would believe that their life or the life of others was in danger when faced with that situation. Both officers' use of deadly force in response to the perceived threat was reasonable." 

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