© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Prosecutor: Fatal Eaton County Police Shooting Was Justified

Police Lights
publicdomainpictures

A prosecutor says two mid-Michigan sheriff's officers were justified in fatally shooting a man who rammed his pickup truck into their vehicles following a chase.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor of Lisa McCormick of Ingham County announced Tuesday that a detective and a deputy from Eaton County "acted reasonably when they used deadly force" against 64-year-old Robert Claude Smith of rural Brookfield Township to defend themselves against a threat of death or serious bodily injury. The shooting occurred Nov. 28

The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office took over the case after Eaton County prosecutors claimed a conflict of interest.

State police say the officers had gone to Smith's home with an arrest warrant charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. One officer suffered minor injuries in the incident.

Related Content
Every WKAR News story you read is rooted in fact-based, local journalism, produced without commercial influence and available for free to everyone in mid-Michigan. No paywalls. Ever.

But this work doesn’t fund itself. With significant cuts to federal funding, public media is facing a critical moment. If you believe in journalism that serves the public interest, now is the time to act. Donate today.