A sheriff’s deputy who shot and fatally injured a suspect who threatened her with a knife has been placed on administrative leave, Eaton County Sheriff Tom Reich said.
The decision is standard procedure when a deputy is involved in a shooting incident. The department will also conduct an internal review of the incident for compliance with policies, procedures and training, Reich said.
The Michigan State Police, which released video of the July 14 incident on Jerryson Drive in Delta Township, is handling the investigation.
Police have identified the man shot by police as Sean Ernest Ruis, 43, of Grand Ledge. He later died in surgery. Ruis was a suspect in a stabbing earlier Tuesday morning at a convenience store. Police have said an argument occurred about Ruis not wearing a face mask in the store, and that Ruis stabbed an older man before fleeing from the scene in a vehicle.
The Eaton County sheriff’s deputy pulled over Ruis’ vehicle about a half hour later.
Eaton County released footage captured by the 22-year veteran officer’s body camera. The up-close footage is sensitive in nature and can be seen below. It shows Ruis holding a knife and screwdriver approaching the deputy, who repeatedly commands him to drop the weapon.
When he fails to comply, the video shows her shooting several rounds before quickly clearing the jammed gun and firing again. Ruis eventually drops to the ground.
VIDEO IS SENSITIVE IN NATURE: Eaton County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Involved Shooting. The Michigan State Police 1st District Investigation Response Team is investigating the deputy involved shooting that occurred on Jerryson Drive in Delta Twp, Eaton County on July 14. pic.twitter.com/733H2iOhCa
— MSP First District (@MSPFirstDist) July 14, 2020
The deputy had been pursuing Ruis after he allegedly stabbed the man from Lansing inside a Dimondale Quality Dairy store earlier that morning.
MSP say an argument began inside the store shortly before 6:45 a.m. over Ruis, who was a customer there, not wearing a mask. Ruis was refused service by the store. Ruis is accused of stabbing a 77-year-old man in the store before he fled in a vehicle.
“Our thoughts and prayers are for the full recovery of the victim who was stabbed at the Quality Dairy and for his family and are with our deputy who was subsequently violently attacked,” Reich said in a statement. “They are also with the family of Mr. Ruis who was killed in this senseless, tragic incident.”
The stabbing victim was treated for his injuries, police said.
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