News

Actions

Police report: Brother in deadly officer-involved shooting suffered ‘mental crisis’

Posted at 4:33 AM, May 24, 2015
and last updated 2015-05-24 04:33:18-04

PORTAGE, Mich. -- An extensive police report obtained by FOX 17 is shedding new light into a deadly police-involved shootinginvestigation in Portage.

The chase across Kalamazoo County last week ended with a shooting that killed 37-year-old Sean Pelletier.

His brother, 29-year-old Aaron remains hospitalized with critical injuries after being shot in the head.

"I'm not sure if you are aware of what's going on. We've got multiple subjects down here," an officer can be heard saying on a recording of the radio traffic of the incident.

The gunfire erupted in the parking lot of Anna's Vineyards Apartment complex in Portage. In the end the vehicle's passenger, Sean Pelletier was dead on the ground, with an assault rifle laying just feet away. His brother Aaron, critically injured in the driver's seat.

It all started with an attempted traffic stop.

Law enforcement was familiar with the brothers, after one of them allegedly threatened to harm a court officer serving an eviction notice last November. That court officer also went on to say that Sean and his sister Amy were suffering from a “mental crisis demonstrating paranoia and fear of being watched or targeted to be killed.”

Officers said that during the pursuit, the driver attempted to ram police units laying spike strips.

"Here they come. We have the spikes out. We have the spikes out," an officer can be heard on the dispatch radio recording.

An officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said that he witnessed Sean Pelletier load what appeared to be an AK-47 during the pursuit.

"I don't know if you are aware of the subject in the backseat possibly loading a weapon. Just be advised," an officer can be heard saying in the dispatch radio recording.

In the dashcam video, the vehicle is seen weaving through several police cruisers. The vehicle struck patrol cars several times, yet the car kept going.

An officer said that when the vehicle entered the apartment complex, Sean Pelletier was steering the wheel from the passenger seat. His brother Aaron suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

When the car finally stopped, officers said that they shouted for the brother's to put their hands up, and that's when Sean Pelletier got out of the vehicle.

State Police said the day of the shooting, Sean was holding an assault style rifle and leveled at officers.

"One suspect down with a rifle, standby," an officer is heard saying in the recording.

Aaron Pelletier was described to have had blood on his head and back. Police cut his seat belt off, then rendered aid.

"We need medics in here," said an officer after the law enforcement shot several times at Sean.

Gunshots also flew into several nearby apartments, with neighbors ducking for cover. Some with small children, remarkably avoiding injury.

In total, six officers are on paid administrative leave as State Police conduction their investigation. Two officers were from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Three officers were Kalamazoo Sheriff's Deputies and a state trooper.

No officers were hurt in the shooting.

Again, this information, is from the Portage Department of Public Safety.

Michigan State Police is still reviewing this and other reports from other departments involved. They're expected to release more on this investigation as it moves forward.