Jackson County Prosecutor, Jerry Jarzynka, has sent out his decision in the officer involved shooting with Kenneth Townley that happened in March.
Jarzynka came to the conclusion that the officers acted properly in the incident. They were defending themselves and their fellow officers when they shot at Townley, after he raised his arm and pointed a gun at them.
Prior to that, Townley then carjacked a woman in a Meijer parking lot, taking her purse and getting in the car but not actually stealing it. He left the scene on foot.
After review, the gun Townley was using was discovered to be an Airsoft pistol that he is suspected of stealing from a Meijer on Michigan Avenue.
A total of five officers shot at Townley in the area of Tyson and Watts in Blackman Township after he allegedly robbed the nearby Dollar General at gunpoint back in March. He stole $371.19.
Officers from the Jackson Police Department, Blackman-Leoni Department of Public Safety, and the Jackson County Sheriff's Office were involved in the shooting.
Last month, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said an internal investigation found city of Jackson police officers did not violate any policies.
The full decision is attached.
