Bodycam video shows man armed with a knife and a replica gun is shot twice Battle Creek police
By: The Battle Creek Police Department held a press conference Wednesday to provide an update on the investigation into two officers who allegedly shot a 22-year-old man in Bedford Township on Sunday.
The man shot was hit twice by bullets in the torso, Deputy Chief Shannon Bagley said. He is in serious condition at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.
“Tragic and unfortunate that this had to take place on Christmas evening," Bagley said.
Officers did a fantastic job given the circumstances, he added.
The two officers were put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is protocol in these cases, according to the Battle Creek Police Department.
On Sunday, officers went to a home on North Birdsall Drive in Bedford Township around 2 p.m.
A woman reported her boyfriend assaulted her, but the accused 22-year-old Battle Creek man left the area before officers arrived, police said.
The same woman called 911 again around 10:30 p.m. that night, reporting the man had returned with a knife and was making suicidal statements, police said.
Almost eight hours passed from the first 911 call to the second call, Bagley said.
Three Battle Creek officers near the area went to the home and heard yelling coming from the backyard. Officers found the man and woman arguing, and two other people present.
As officers came closer to investigate, the man pulled what appeared to be a dark-colored handgun from his waistband, according to police.
During the Wednesday press conference, Bagley said the gun was a "well done" revolver replica.
Officers told the man to drop the gun, investigation shows. At the same time, fearing for the safety of everyone present, two of the officers fired their guns, hitting the man twice in the torso, police stated.
Mere seconds took place from the time officers arrived and when the shooting occurred, Bagley said.
The man dropped the gun and fell to the ground, and two knives were taken off the man, police said.
The officers gave the man first aid care, and a police supervisor took him to a local hospital for treatment, according to Battle Creek Police.
There were no injuries to the officers or the others involved, according to Bagley.
Police have reached out to the woman, Bagley said.
One of the officers has two years of experience, and one has 10 years of experience. Michigan State Police is now taking over the investigation of this case, which is also standard practice, according to the Battle Creek Police Department.