LANSING, Mich. — In a brief press conference on Monday, Ingham County Sheriff Scott Wriggelsworth addressed the public regarding a deadly shooting that occurred Sunday afternoon along US-127 near Mason. The sheriff confirmed that the shooting involved a confrontation between law enforcement officers and a man who had been walking the wrong way on the highway.
Sheriff Wriggelsworth spoke for just under three minutes and clarified that he would not be answering any questions following the briefing. During his remarks, the sheriff released dashcam footage showing the suspect running with knives in hand after a vehicle that was moving in reverse. The video, which was part of a larger, more complex encounter, was shared to provide context for the public. Wriggelsworth noted that the full encounter lasted more than 13 minutes, and that video only captured a brief segment of the incident.
“The subject was not handcuffed prior to the shooting,” the sheriff emphasized. “In fact, we never even touched the subject until after force was used.”
Wriggelsworth also highlighted that officers attempted to use a taser on the suspect, but the effort was ineffective. The sheriff explained that law enforcement made their decisions based on the totality of the circumstances, rather than relying on a short video clip. “No law enforcement professional ever wants to experience this,” he said, expressing sympathy for the loss of life.
The sheriff provided further details, stating that after force was used, multiple deputies, officers, state troopers, and paramedics provided life-saving measures to the suspect for approximately 25 minutes, though they were unable to save him. The suspect, who has not been identified, died at the scene. The sheriff described the incident as a “tragic event” for all parties involved and urged the community to keep those affected in their thoughts.
Regarding the officer involved, Wriggelsworth confirmed that the deputy had been placed on administrative leave while the Michigan State Police conduct their investigation into the incident. The sheriff did not provide further details on the condition of the officer who was reported to have sustained minor injuries during the encounter. According to the City of Mason, the injured officer did not require hospitalization.
The sequence of events leading to the shooting began around 4:00 p.m. Sunday, when a driver called 911 to report a man walking the wrong way along US-127 near Barnes Road in Vevay Township. Police arrived on the scene and found the individual walking on the freeway. The sheriff’s office stated that the man was “non-compliant” when approached by officers, and shortly thereafter, he allegedly pulled out “multiple knives.”
Over the course of approximately 13 minutes, law enforcement officers attempted to calm the situation. Despite these efforts, the confrontation escalated, leading to the fatal shooting. The Michigan State Police are now leading the investigation into the incident.
US-127 was closed for several hours following the event but has since been reopened to traffic.
In a news release, the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office asked for the community’s patience and prayers during this difficult time. “This is a tragic event for all involved,” the release stated. “We ask for our community’s patience and prayers as the investigation continues.”
At the time of the press conference, the sheriff’s office had not identified the suspect or the officers involved in the shooting. The investigation remains ongoing.
