GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — One man is dead after police officers opened fire late Friday night outside Trinity Health Grand Rapids.
The officers were dispatched to front of the hospital for a man who was waving a weapon wildly. Multiple people called 911 around 10:45 p.m., including an ambulance transporting a patient to the emergency room.
When officers arrived, they found him still outside the hospital. It's not clear exactly what happened in the first moments between the man and the officers, it ended with 3 officers discharging their weapons.
The man was rushed into the hospital for treatment, but pronounced dead shortly after.
Described only with an age of late 30s, Police Chief Eric Winstrom did not identify him during a press conference roughly two hours after the shooting. The man's family has not yet been notified.
Police say the suspect did not appear to have any connection to the hospital.
Detectives with Grand Rapids police and Michigan State Police canvassed the scene for hours, speaking with many people who witnessed the man's erratic behavior and the shooting, plus looking for where any stray bullets ended up.
Whether or not the man fired his weapon remains under investigation.
Chief Winstrom says the possibility this was a suicide by cop hasn't been ruled out.
"I'm very empathetic to individuals, whether this was a suicide by cop situation, mental health situation, or some other story, to have someone standing outside putting themselves in a situation for long enough that multiple people calling 911, and that the police had time to show up, and this individual was still there, exhibiting behavior," said Chief Winstrom. "There's obviously something else going on."
Watch the full press conference with Chief Winstrom below
No officers or other bystanders were injured.
Michigan State Police will be handling the investigation into the use of deadly force by the Grand Rapids police officers. Those officers are on administrative leave.
Anyone with information on this shooting can contact Silent Observer at (616) 774-2345.
GRPD and MSP on scene of an officer involved shooting at Jefferson and Maple. Media staging is at Jefferson and Wealthy, NW corner lot. Chief Winstrom to provide briefing approximately 12:50.
— Grand Rapids Police (@GrandRapidsPD) November 9, 2024
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