In Wayne, Michigan, tensions are growing as the community rallies behind the family of John Zook Jr., a man who was shot and killed by local law enforcement this past June. The incident has propelled locals and activists to ignite a passionate demand for officials to release critical information including the officer’s bodycam footage, Zook’s 911 call, and the results of an ongoing state investigation.
Zook Jr., who was 40 at the time, was reported to be going through a mental health crisis. He was the one who called 911, expressing suicidal thoughts. Unfortunately, the situation escalated, and he was shot by a police officer from the Wayne Police Department.
The incident has left the family in distress. The victim’s father, John Zook Sr., a retired police sergeant himself, said, “This has been the toughest thing in my life.”
According to the family, they were shown the footage privately and they argue that it contradicts official police claims. They allege their son did put his weapon down and did not charge at the officers as police suggest. “They said, ‘Put the knife down. Put the knife down.’ He puts the knife down to his side and then they said, ‘Taser. Taser.’ They tased him and in a split second, they shot him six times,” said John Zook Sr.
The family has involved Attorney Todd Perkins, who has filed a request for the video under the Freedom of Information Act. Perkins stated, “We want to pressure the Wayne police to release it voluntarily,” adding that with the investigation completed, there’s no reason not to let the public see the video.
In a recent city council meeting, they motioned to release the requested information but it was not supported by the majority and was quickly sidetracked. This resulted in outrage from community members and Zook’s family.
The matter has caught the attention of community activists like Trische Duckworth of Survivors Speak and Brian Silverstein of Detroit Will Breathe, who both reiterated the need for transparency.
Wayne’s Deputy Police Chief, Finley Carter, maintains they are not currently planning to release the video. Without a concluded result from the investigation, they argue the case is filled with too much emotion and it remains uncertain if it’s in the public interest to release it.
A spokesperson from the Prosecutor’s Office has confirmed they received the case and are reviewing it to decide on potential charges. John Zook Sr. firmly believes charges should be raised against the involved officers. As the tension continues, the community remains hopeful for justice and transparency to prevail.
