MARSHALL, Mich. (WOOD) — A person shot by a deputy close to Marshall threatened to harm himself, pointed what seemed like a gun on the deputy and demanded to be shot, the Calhoun County sheriff mentioned.
The sheriff recognized the person as Michael Anthony Koch, 41, of Marshall.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who’s affected by this. It’s certainly an incredibly difficult time,” Sheriff Steve Hinkley mentioned at a Thursday morning information convention in Marshall.
Man shot lifeless throughout encounter with Calhoun County deputies
The capturing occurred Wednesday morning at a house on 18 1/2 Mile Highway north of Centennial Highway in Marengo Township, simply outdoors of Marshall. The sheriff mentioned deputies have been known as out on a report of a doable capturing sufferer who was reportedly suicidal.
“The 911 caller reported that Mr. Koch had been texting family members. In those messages, Mr. Koch claimed that he had shot himself in the head. He stated that if anyone called the police, he would ‘finish the job’ and he would also shoot responding officers,” Hinkley mentioned.
“If the cops show up and I’m still alive, I’ll shoot them,” one among Koch’s textual content messages mentioned, in line with the sheriff.
The sheriff mentioned after the collection of texts, Koch stopped speaking with household and would not reply cellphone calls.
When deputies arrived on the house, the sheriff mentioned, one discovered Koch on the again patio. The sheriff mentioned Koch didn’t adjust to the deputy’s orders.
“Michael, stand up and face away,” the deputy will be heard ordering in a brief physique digital camera video clip launched by the sheriff’s workplace.
Nonetheless photos from the bodycam video confirmed Koch picked up what the sheriff mentioned seemed like a “long rifle-style gun.”
“He pointed it at the deputies and he said, ‘Shoot me, (expletive),'” Hinkley described.
Nonetheless photos from a deputy’s physique digital camera exhibits Michael Koch level what seems to be a gun on the deputy on Could 28, 2025. The gun was later discovered to be a BB gun, deputies say.
“Put the gun down!” the deputy will be heard ordering within the video.
“Put the g-” he began to repeat earlier than the video was paused.
At that time, the deputy shot Koch. Deputies began first help, however Koch died.
Hinkley mentioned Koch’s gun was later to discovered to be a BB gun.
Koch’s girlfriend and household, who didn’t wish to seem on digital camera Thursday, informed Information 8 they’re heartbroken. They mentioned extra might have been finished to de-escalate the scenario earlier than what the girlfriend known as a “nightmare.”
She mentioned she informed dispatchers he was intoxicated and that there have been not weapons within the house aside from a BB gun. Koch’s mom mentioned she informed dispatchers he had a historical past of psychological well being issues, together with ADHD and melancholy. His girlfriend mentioned they have been engaged on getting him assist and hoped insurance coverage from his new job would make that simpler.
Courtroom information present Koch was charged with a misdemeanor home violence depend in 2023. That was later dismissed. His girlfriend informed Information 8 he was on probation for an occasion of working beneath the affect.
The deputy was not harmed. He has been in legislation enforcement for 27 years and has labored for the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Workplace for 4.5 years, the sheriff mentioned.
Michigan State Police have been tapped to research the capturing and the sheriff’s workplace is conducting its personal inside investigation. The deputy has been positioned on paid administrative go away pending the outcomes of the investigation. All that’s customary process after an officer makes use of lethal pressure.
