Body camera footage released in Niles deadly police shooting

NOW: Body camera footage released in Niles deadly police shooting

NILES, Mich. -- The Berrien County Sheriff releasing today, the body camera footage of a deadly police shooting in Niles Township.

It shows a deputy chasing 48-year-old Joshua Coffey of South Bend, one week ago tonight, when Coffey crouches down and fires two shots at the officer, who then fires back, killing the gunman.

Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit walked ABC57 through the body camera video today to show the intense moments leading up to the shooting.

Sheriff Heit tells us how that deputy, now identified as Deputy Cal Landon, performed exceptionally well, and swiftly neutralized the threat to himself and others.

Deputy Landon was checking up on a vehicle parked on the side of the road, with a woman and a man standing outside of it.

It quickly turned into a chase, as the man took off running, and the woman fled in the car.

The man, identified as Joshua Coffey, pulled a gun within feet of the deputy, and fired shots in his direction.

Within a second, the deputy transitioned from his taser to his firearm and shot Coffey.

The next arriving officer took over, per protocol, and checked on Coffey, who still had his finger on the trigger.

"Deputy Landon advises Deputy La Ratta that the male subject pulled a gun on him and shot at him. Deputy La Ratta directs him to have a seat and goes to check on the male subject at 18:04 and 18 seconds Deputy La Ratta finds that the male subject is deceased and still has the firearm in his hand with his finger on the trigger," stated Sheriff Heit.

ABC57 asked Sheriff Heit about the unidentified woman who was with the man, and fled in the vehicle while the shooting unfolded.

Sheriff Heit was not able to comment much due to the ongoing investigation by the Michigan State Police, but he did state that both she and the vehicle were located.

As for Deputy Landon, he is still on paid leave.


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