WAYNE, MI — John Zook, 40, was having a mental crisis when he called 911 and told police he was suicidal and not taking his medication.
Wayne Police Officers arrived at the Newbury Square Apartments on Tuesday (June 18) afternoon and went to the third floor apartment.
John Zuke said he found his 4-year-old son unconscious and covered in blood in his bedroom while he was sleeping.
“Upon arrival, officers encountered the suspect inside the apartment, bleeding from a self-inflicted injury and still holding the knife.
“Officers issued multiple verbal commands and attempted to use a non-lethal Taser twice, but to no avail.
The suspect then lunged at the officers, at which point one of the officers returned fire, causing the suspect to stop at the scene. The unharmed child was removed from the apartment and released to his mother a short time later.”
Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter
Officers attempted rescue but Zook was dead.
As is customary, Michigan State Police are currently investigating.
“I'm really worried about my daughter,” Brox Edwards said, “she's lost her father, Johnny loved her baby and now she has to rebuild her life on her own.”
John Zuke, 40, was in a mental health crisis when he called 911 and told police he was suicidal and off his medication. (Copyright 2024 WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All Rights Reserved)
Her daughter, Destiny, was downstairs when police arrived and had no idea what was going on when police came to her apartment door.
The whole family is just heartbroken.
Well-known attorney Todd Perkins knows the family and was on the scene to offer support and monitor the investigation.
“This is one of those sedentary behaviors that could have been addressed with training,” Perkins said. “Could it have been avoided by going to the hospital instead of to the morgue?”
John Zuke, 40, was in a mental health crisis when he called 911 and told police he was suicidal and off his medication. (Copyright 2024 WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All Rights Reserved)
Copyright 2024 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All Rights Reserved.
