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1 injured in officer-involved shooting during Mattawan traffic stop

Posted at 8:50 AM, Nov 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-11-03 16:55:19-04

MATTAWAN, Mich. -- Authorities say one person was injured in an officer-involved shooting during a traffic stop Friday morning in Mattawan.

Michigan State Police Lt. Dale Hinz tells FOX 17 the shooting happened around 8 a.m. Friday near Main Street and West McGillen Avenue.  Authorities say the officer attempted a traffic stop and located three people in a stolen vehicle.

Police didn't immediately release specifics about what led to the shooting.  However, FOX 17 spoke with a woman who says her car had been stolen by someone she knew and she and the officer were trying to track down the suspect.

"I was in the car with [the officer] for what, about 5 or 10 minutes through the chase, through here looking for him, and then she told me I had to get out of the car," said Holley Zantjer.

She says at some point while pursuing the vehicle, the officer started shooting.

"He took off in the car going South on Main Street.  She started shooting at the car. She tried to get him to stop, shooting up at tires and stuff to get him to stop."

A woman inside the vehicle was hit and taken to the hospital for treatment.

"The individual that was shot is, I'm told, stable right now but at the hospital," said State Police Det. F/Lt. Chuck Christensen.

Police say two other people in the stolen vehicle fled but were later arrested. The shooting is under investigation.

"The prosecutor will make a decision whether or not the shooting was justified or not," Christensen said.

As a matter of precaution Mattawan Schools were locked down. The lockdown has since been lifted.

The Associated Press contributed to this report