Demetrice D Presnall, 22

Flint, Michigan
June 04, 2013

Agencies: Michigan State Police MSP

Cause of death: Shooting

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Last updated: almost 6 years ago

Overview

A shooting that left a suspect dead Tuesday night is the second deadly shooting involving a state trooper over the past 11 days and the third fatal officer-involved shooting in Genesee County since mid-April.

One man was killed by a Michigan State Police trooper Tuesday, June 4, after he allegedly pointed a gun at two troopers at Evergreen Regency apartment complex off Lippincott Boulevard, according to a press release.

Troopers attempted to stop a suspicious man around 10:15 p.m. Tuesday. The man fled and then pointed a gun at troopers, police said.

The troopers ordered him to put the weapon down and then fatally shot the man.

His mother, Veronica Presnall, believes her son was unarmed and had his hands up when police behind him opened fire.

"I want the truth to come out," said Veronica Presnall. "I want people to come out and say it."

No one disputes that Demetrice Presnall was at the Evergreen Regency apartments in Flint about 10 p.m. June 4 when plainclothes police were on patrol in an area with a reputation for drugs and violence.

Everything else about the night, however, is a matter of dispute.

Police say plainclothes officers from the Flint Area Narcotics Group were patrolling the area when they saw three men begin to walk away from them as officers approached. Two of men, including Presnall, took off running and police started after them.

Two troopers chasing Presnall said they saw him pull out a gun and try to shoot at two federal agents wearing marked police tactical vests in front of him, but the gun jammed when he pulled the trigger, according to police reports.

The troopers chasing from behind fired about 20 shots from behind Presnall, hitting him 9 times with .40-caliber bullets.

Legal Action

A federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of Presnall by his mother, Veronica Presnall, and was against Flint Area Narcotics Group officers William Huey and Anthony Easlick. It also named FANG Commander Lt. Patrick Richard. A federal appeals court agreed with a lower court that police did not use excessive force in the 2013 shooting.