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Unarmed Navy Veteran Shot 27 Times After Police Chase
The family of a U.S. Navy veteran has filed a wrongful death lawsuit after he was fatally shot by Michigan deputies following a 32-minute police pursuit. The lawsuit alleges the unarmed veteran was mistakenly targeted after officers relied on a flawed 911 tip and used excessive force despite finding no weapon.
Photo from https://www.youngcolonial.com/obituaries/john-jenuwine/obituary
It started with a police chase.
It ended with 27 bullets.
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Now, one grieving family says the man deputies were chasing may never have been the person they were looking for.
On June 10, the family of John Jenuwine, a 34-year-old U.S. Navy veteran, filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office over a shooting that took place on January 6, 2026, in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan.
According to investigators, the incident began shortly after 1:24 a.m., when a 911 caller reported a white van driving erratically without headlights or license plates. Minutes later, another caller claimed the driver had pointed a gun at his wife and described the occupants as two Black men. Deputies soon located a white van, and a 32-minute pursuit followed through Ypsilanti Township.
But the lawsuit argues deputies were pursuing the wrong person from the very beginning.
Jenuwine was white, was alone in the van, and investigators later found no firearm inside the vehicle. His attorneys contend the description provided by the second caller did not match him and should have prompted greater caution before the confrontation escalated. Those allegations will be tested in court.
The chase ended around 2:06 a.m. after deputies used a PIT maneuver that overturned Jenuwine's van.
Body camera footage reportedly captures an officer shouting that the driver had a gun moments before multiple deputies opened fire.
A total of 27 rounds were fired.
Jenuwine was struck seven times.
No gun was recovered.
This is where the questions begin.
The family's lawsuit alleges deputies failed to provide immediate medical aid after the shooting and instead allowed the wounded veteran to bleed while the scene was secured. Attorneys also argue there were numerous opportunities throughout the pursuit to de-escalate the situation before deadly force was used.
If you've followed this so far, here's the part that actually matters.
John Jenuwine served six years in the U.S. Navy. His parents describe him as a hardworking, law-abiding man who took great pride in serving his country. They say they still cannot understand why he fled from police that morning, but they believe nothing justified the way the encounter ended.
The Michigan State Police have completed their investigation, and the case remains under review by the Michigan Attorney General's Office while the civil lawsuit moves forward.
For one Michigan family, the search for answers has only just begun.
Editor's Note
Police officers often make life-or-death decisions in rapidly changing situations.
At the same time, every use of deadly force deserves careful scrutiny, especially when the person killed is found to be unarmed.
The lawsuit contains serious allegations that have not yet been proven in court, and the deputies involved have not been found liable. As the legal process unfolds, the case is likely to renew debate over police pursuits, use of force, and the responsibility to verify information before deadly decisions are made.
