Michigan AG Finds Troopers Acted in Self-Defense in Fatal 2025 Otisville Shooting, No Charges
The Michigan Department of Attorney General announced on November 13 that it has concluded its review of the July 31, 2025 officer-involved shooting death of James Jennings, then 54, of Otisville, without issuing charges against the Michigan State Police troopers involved, finding they acted in self-defense and in defense of fellow officers and bystanders. It is the policy of the Michigan State Police to send all officer-involved shootings to the Department of Attorney General for review.
On the afternoon of July 31, 2025, troopers responded to a 9-1-1 call and met a woman near Jennings' residence who reported he had attacked her in his home, from which she escaped. Troopers documented her injuries and tried at length by phone to persuade Jennings to exit peaceably. He refused, saying he was dug in and was not going to jail or prison. Knowing he had numerous firearms in the home, troopers requested the Emergency Support Team and set a security perimeter.
The team began arriving at 5:30 p.m. and continued negotiating, using public-address announcements, flash-bang devices and pepper balls. Jennings fired a single shot at troopers at 6:54 p.m.; police did not return fire and kept using non-lethal means. Jennings then resumed firing at troopers and their vehicles, and one of his shots entered a neighbor's occupied home, narrowly missing the resident. Between 6:54 p.m. and 7:09 p.m., Jennings opened fire four times and five Emergency Support Team troopers returned fire. Jennings was killed in an attic space, surrounded by multiple firearms and ammunition magazines, having suffered four gunshot wounds.
Source: Michigan Department of Attorney General
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Photo: 图：位于 Lansing 的密歇根州议会大厦。GSM 固定图库。 / Photo: The Michigan State Capitol in Lansing. GSM asset library.
