UPDATED 4-23-18

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office conducted an internal review of the facts and circumstances of the April 15, 2018 incident involving a vehicle that was evading police after a Breaking and Entering and theft of firearms from the Black Arsenal Gun Store.

Upon completion of the internal review, which included a review of the in-car video of the incident, the Berrien County Sheriff’s Office found no wrong doing on the part of the two deputies involved in this incident. Based on these findings the two deputies are being returned to work effective today, Monday April 23, 2018.

The Michigan State Police is still completing their portion of the investigation which will still be forwarded to the Berrien County Prosecutors Office, which is standard procedure in incidents of this nature.

The names of the two Berrien County Sheriff’s Office Deputies involved in this incident will not be release until the Berrien County Prosecutors Office has completed their review of this incident.

 

UPDATED 4-15-18  – 815 PM

According to the Michigan State Police they have been able to preliminarily identify the occupants of the vehicle in the crash from earlier this morning. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of each of these individuals during this difficult time.

They are as follows:
DRIVER:
Jamahri Jayshaun Fuller, male, 20 years of age, Benton Harbor MI 49022
Deceased
RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER:
Davion Marquez Patton, male, 17 years of age, Benton Harbor MI 49022
Deceased
REAR PASSENGER:
Allan Trevon-James Velox, 17 years of age, Benton Harbor MI 49022
Deceased

REAR PASSENGER:
Anton Duran Morgan, 17 years of age, Benton Harbor MI 49022
Currently at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids in critical condition

The Lincoln Township Police Department has confirmed that there were eight firearms stolen from the gun store and all eight firearms were recovered at the scene of the crash. There were three pistols, one shotgun and five rifles.

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On Sunday, April 15, 2018 at approximately 5:11 am a neighbor of the Black Arsenal Gun Store called the Berrien County Public Safety Dispatch to report glass breakage. The caller was able to give a description of a gold four door SUV that left the scene toward Red Arrow Highway. The B&E was confirmed by the alarm company contacting dispatch reporting an active alarm. Area police agencies were advised of the situation and the vehicle description. Lincoln Township Police arrived on scene and were able to identify that several long guns were missing from the gun store.

rockey weed

At approximately 5:26 am a Berrien County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle matching this description on I-94 eastbound near the 27 mile marker. The Deputy activated his emergency lighting and a traffic stop was initiated. The suspect vehicle pulled to the side of the roadway. After coming to a stop the vehicle then sped off eastbound on I-94. The Deputy then pursued the vehicle with his emergency lighting and siren activated. The pursuit continued eastbound on I-94 where the vehicle exited at M-139 and turned southbound toward Scottsdale. The vehicle continued southbound on M-139 where it lost control north of Rockey Weed Road and crashed into a large tree.

There were a total of four occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Three of the occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene and one of the occupants was transported to Lakeland Hospital via Medic 1 Ambulance where he is in critical condition.

The Berrien County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Michigan State Police to conduct the investigation into the crash. The MSP Traffic Crash Reconstruction Team was activated along with the 5th District Special Investigation Section.
The names of the victims involved in this crash are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

As standard operating procedures the deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation and reviewed by the Berrien County Prosecutors Office. The names of the victims will not be released until the investigation is completed.