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Police in Calhoun Co. identify suspect killed in officer-involved shooting

Posted at 7:32 AM, Mar 09, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-09 18:01:44-05

PENNFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The Calhoun County Sheriff`s Office has identified the suspect who died during an officer-involved shooting Saturday morning.

The incident also left two others wounded. It happened around 4 a.m. Saturday in Pennfield Township near Battle Creek.

The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office issued a 5:55 p.m. update Saturday to say 46-year-old Joel David Kellay of Battle Creek was the suspect killed. “An autopsy…is scheduled for Sunday morning in Kalamazoo.”

A woman says her husband came home drunk and physically assaulted her, so she left and went to a relative’s house nearby.

Her 18- and 22-year-old sons went to confront the 46-year-old man, when he shot at them both. One was wounded in the stomach and the other in the arm. They both escaped and went to join their mother.

When police arrived at the home, they began searching and found a closed bedroom door. Protected by a shield, they opened it. As soon as they opened the door, the suspect had a shotgun and fired at the officers. A sheriff’s deputy and two Battle Creek officers returned fire.

The suspect was killed, but no officers were hurt.

Calhoun County sheriff Matt Saxton and Battle Creek police chief Jim Blocker both stand behind their teams’ actions, saying the officers acted according to training for their safety and the safety of others.

The two brothers who were shot are being treated and are expected to make a full recovery.

The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid leave. The shooting itself is currently under investigation by the Michigan State Police.