Prosecutors say the fatal shooting by Wayne police of John Zook Jr. was justified and dismisses the charges

WAYNE, Mich. (FOX 2) – No charges will be filed against the Wayne police officers who arrest John Zook Jr. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office made the announcement earlier this year on Wednesday.

Police said Zook, 40, called 911 himself and informed the operator that he was in the midst of a mental health crisis and no longer needed to take medication on June 18. When officers arrived, they found Zook in distress and armed with a kitchen knife.

Zook’s 4-year-old son was in the home when the incident occurred at the Newberry Square Apartments at Newberry Street and Michigan Avenue. Police also said Zook cut himself several times in a suicide attempt. The prosecutor’s office said he had more than 50 stab wounds.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the officers ordered Zook to drop the gun for 15 seconds before telling him he would be Tased.

One of the officers tried to taser Zook, but it had no effect. At that point, another officer, holding his police firearm in one hand, pulled out his Taser. Prosecutors said Zook approached the officers with the knife, while the one armed with the Taser and gun fired both at the same time.

Zook was still holding the knife, causing the officers to shoot him four times, the prosecutor said. After the shooting, officers rendered aid to Zook and removed his child, who had been asleep during the shooting, from the apartment.

After the shooting, Zook’s family argued that they did not think he had charged police. They also demanded that bodycam footage of the interaction be released. The video was never shared publicly.

The prosecutor’s office justified the decision not to charge the officers, releasing a statement that read in part:

“In Michigan, police officers have the same right to self-defense and defense of others as any other person. Michigan’s legal standard for using deadly force for self-defense or the defense of others is whether the person using force has a reasonable fear of imminent death or great bodily harm to them or anyone nearby.

“At the time officers used force, they objectively knew that Mr. Zook was armed with a knife, which would legally be considered a dangerous weapon. Mr. Zook was apparently actively suffering from a mental health crisis, did not act rationally, and merely attempted suicide. He did not respond to commands while armed and standing a short distance from the officers. They also knew that Mr. Zook’s young child was in the apartment with him.

“The officers did not use deadly force until Mr. Zook objectively posed an imminent threat to their safety when he approached them after unsuccessfully attempting to use a Taser to disarm him. The facts and evidence in this case demonstrate that the shooting was justified and that the officers acted in lawful self-defense under Michigan law.”

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