(WWJ) A Shelby Township police officer will not face criminal charges connected to a deadly shooting in June.
Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido announced Thursday that the shooting of Thomas Jackson, 41, of Troy was justified.
The incident started about 3:15 p.m. June 3rd near 22 Mile Road and Van Dyke, when an officer attempted a traffic stop on a white minivan. Jackson got out and started running.
Body cam video viewed by WWJ's Charlie Langton and other reporters at the Macomb County Sheriff's Department Thursday morning shows the officer chasing Jackson and hollering for Jackson to stop and drop his gun. The officer fired eight shots, with one hitting Jackson in the leg, another hitting him in the buttocks and three hitting him in the chest. Jackson died at the hospital.
The investigation showed Jackson was carrying a 9mm handgun. He did not fire any shots.
Jackson family spokesman Reverend WJ Rideout III says the officer used excessive force.
"Everybody has a gun, everybody runs," Rideout said. "Why does a black man have to always get shot in the back as a result of the investigation. Why do we always walk away with shooting black men rather unarmed or armed in the back."
Rideout says shooting Jackson eight times is overkill.
The officer is an eight year veteran of the Shelby Township Police Department.