Woman shot during Jackson welfare check in stable condition
A 36-year-old woman was hospitalized in stable condition after a Jackson police officer shot her in the leg Tuesday morning.
The Jackson Police Department said officers were sent to the 400 block of West Monroe Street about 5:34 a.m. Oct. 20. An open-line 911 call prompted the welfare check.
Police said she opened the front door with a knife and lunged at officers. One officer used a Taser while another fired a gun, hitting her in the leg.
Officers immediately gave her first aid, and an ambulance took her to Henry Ford Jackson Hospital, according to the department. No officers were injured.
The Jackson County Major Task Force Investigative Unit is conducting the criminal investigation. The department placed all involved officers on administrative leave pending criminal and internal investigations.
When does a police shooting violate the Fourth Amendment?
A police shooting only violates the Fourth Amendment when the force used to stop or detain someone is objectively unreasonable. In Graham v. Connor, the U.S. Supreme Court directed courts to assess the circumstances from the perspective of a reasonable officer at the scene. Relevant factors include any immediate threat to officers or others, the seriousness of the suspected offense and whether the person was actively resisting arrest or trying to flee. Courts also account for the rapid decisions officers may face.
The review also includes relevant events leading up to the shooting. Earlier interactions can help explain what a reasonable officer would have understood when force was used.
Body camera footage and dispatch recordings can help establish warnings, movements and the sequence of an encounter. Michigan Legal Center's explanation of excessive-force claims in Michigan describes how those records can help evaluate whether the force was lawful.
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If you or someone you love was injured during a police encounter, contact Michigan Legal Center to ask whether the matter is within Michigan Legal Center's practice areas.
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Learn about the types of cases reviewed through Michigan Legal Center's police misconduct practice.