Zook called the Wayne Police 911-line June 18 to report that he needed help as he was suicidal and having a mental health crisis, according to official accounts of the incident. Police arrived at Zook’s Newberry Square Apartment in about 2 minutes and found Zook armed with a kitchen knife. Officers reported that Zook has cut himself several times in a suicide attempt.
Wayne Police Chief Finley Carter told reporters that the responding officers made multiple requests for Zook to drop the knife. When he did not respond to verbal commands, officers twice used a taser on Zook, according to official reports of the incident. As the situation escalated, Zook was shot with a handgun six times, killing him at the scene in front of his 4-year-old son. Police claim that he lunged at the officers prompting the fatal response.
Zook’s family, friends, and community members have demanded the release of unedited body camera footage, and the name of the officer or officers involved in the shooting, but their demands have been refused or ignored by city and police officials. A recent rally took place outside Wayne police headquarters on Michigan Avenue, demanding the video and more information about the death of Zook. Family members have repeatedly stated that they believe the situation could have been handled differently and have repeated their questions regarding the six gunshots Zook suffered in the situation.
Attorney Todd Perkins, representing the Zook family, said that training could have resolved the situation and that it could have ended with Zook going to the hospital instead of the morgue. He said he and the family have filed a Freedom in Information Act request for all records of the incident.
Community activists, family members and friends repeatedly shouted “shame” at a previous city council following the failure of a motion by a councilmember to release the body camera footage, the 911 call and the results of the Michigan State Police investigation. Zook’s father, a retired Highland Park police sergeant, his wife and Zook’s sister have seen only an edited version of the taped confrontation. The family is demanding to see the entire record of the confrontation and shooting. Zook’s father told reporters than the footage the family viewed does not match the police accounts of the incident or police claims that his son charged at the officers with a knife.
Perkins said the family has learned that an investigation by the Michigan State Police has been completed and the file referred to the office of the Wayne County Prosecutor. A spokesman from that office said the investigation would be reviewed for any charging decision. Zook’s father said he expects charges against both the shooter and another responding officer.
“When they (prosecutors)look at evidence, I think they (the officers) should be charged,” John Zook Sr. said.
