Man fatally shot by Benton Harbor police after shooting two officers

Two police officers shot and killed a man after they were shot late Thursday night.

Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety were trying to arrest Dustin Levell Saffell, 32, on Highland Avenue near Winan and McCord streets around 11:15 p.m., April 7, Director Daniel McGinnis said during a news conference Friday, April 8.

Saffell can be seen getting out of the passenger seat of a car, holding a handgun with an extended magazine, according to footage from Sgt. Reginald Gee’s body camera that was shown at the news conference.

In the video footage, Saffell starts firing and Gee returns fire, McGinnis said. Gee was shot in his bulletproof vest and in the leg.

Officer Blake Kinzler came to Gee’s assistance. Kinzler was shot twice in his bulletproof vest and once in the leg, McGinnis said.

Saffell was pronounced dead at the scene.

At least 15 rounds were fired, McGinnis said.

“This is full transparency,” McGinnis told reporters prior to showing the bodycam footage. “We’re putting everything out there today.”

Police had tried twice earlier in the week to contact Saffell because he had two felony warrants and an unserved personal protection order, McGinnis said. Both times Saffell fled from officers.

Officers were using caution because Saffell had multiple notes in his file about previous instances of assault, weapons and domestic violence, McGinnis said.

Saffell had also been posting on social media about having extended magazines and bragging about evading police, Deputy Director Michael Clark said.

Police are not sure why Saffell decided to shoot instead of flee as he had done previously.

Gee was taken to a hospital where he had surgery on his leg and will remain under observation for a couple days, McGinnis said. He said Kinzler’s injury was more superficial, and he was treated and released.

Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting.

This is the third time this week police have shot and killed someone on the west side of Michigan.

A Grand Rapids police officer fatally shot 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya on April 4 after police said Lyoya fled and then fought with the officer. However, his family disputes the official account and is calling on the police department to release video of the altercation.

Also, on April 4, two Michigan State Police troopers shot and killed Joseph Miller, 37, in Muskegon County. Police said they were responding to a break-in at a home when they say Miller produced a handgun and shots were exchanged with troopers, who were not injured.
----------
Keep me motivated by donating to https://paypal.me/thisisbutter

Viewer discretion is always advised when watching this video or any others videos. I do not take any responsibility for your trauma, psychological and/or mental harm.

I do not recommend anyone to attempt, act/reproduce, and/or create hate from what you see in this video or any other videos.

Enjoy.