Author: Chief Joel F. Shults, Ed.D.
By PoliceOne Staff
JACKSON, Mich. — Recently released dash cam footage shows a shootout that wounded a Michigan police officer and killed a suspect.
On April 1, Easter Sunday, Jackson officers responded to a domestic dispute, WLNS reports. Police said moments after police arrived, 34-year-old Christopher Hall walked out of his home and started shooting at officers.
Thirty-six shots were fired in less than 30 seconds, 21 coming from police and 15 from Hall, police said. One of the bullets struck Officer Thomas Tinklepaugh in the leg.
Tinklepaugh is seen on video crawling and taking cover behind a telephone poll where he continues to return fire. Hall was killed by six gunshots in the shootout.
Tinklepaugh was taken to a hospital and is recovering from his injury. He is expected to return to work.
Hall’s girlfriend was also shot and wounded in the incident. Witnesses said Hall used her body as cover from police gunfire.
Investigators said Hall was a bipolar schizophrenic and was off his medications. Hall’s girlfriend told authorities that Hall planned to have a shootout with police to avoid returning to jail.
The officers involved in the shooting were cleared last week after prosecutors found that Hall shot first, refused to drop his weapon and posed a clear threat to officers.
