Wayne County man in mental health crisis shot dead by police

WAYNE, Mich. – John Zook, 40, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, called 911 and told police he was suicidal and had stopped taking his medication.

When Wayne Police officers arrived at the Newberry Square Apartments on Tuesday afternoon (June 18), they went to the third-floor apartment.

They say John Zook fainted and was covered in blood while his four-year-old son was sleeping in a bedroom.

“When officers arrived, they found the suspect in his apartment, bleeding from several self-inflicted wounds and still armed with the knife.

“The officers gave him several verbal commands and attempted to intimidate him twice with a non-lethal taser, but this was ineffective.

The perpetrator then stormed towards the officers, whereupon an officer responded with several shots, which immediately stopped him. The child, who was unharmed, was taken out of the apartment and handed over to his mother shortly afterwards.”

Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter

Officials tried to render aid, but Zook was dead.

The investigation is currently being conducted by the Michigan State Police according to protocol.

“I’m really worried about my daughter,” said Brroks Edwards. “She’s left to pick up the pieces after the father of her child died and Johnny loved his baby.”

Her daughter Destiny was downstairs when police arrived and had no idea what was happening when police came to the door of her apartment.

The whole family is inconsolable.

Well-known attorney Todd Perkins knew the family and provided advice and support and kept an eye on the investigation.

“This is one of those sit-ins where there could have been training that could have solved this,” Perkins said. “Could this have ended with a hospital stay or a trip to the morgue?”