Police fired 27 shots at unarmed Navy veteran John Jenuwine; he bled out while officers watched

On January 6, 2026, Washtenaw County Sheriff's deputies conducting a vehicle pursuit initiated by reports of erratic driving performed two intentional PIT (pursuit intervention technique) maneuvers on a white van in Ypsilanti Township. When the vehicle overturned and caught fire, officers fired 27 rounds into the disabled vehicle and its occupant, John Andrew Jenuwine, a 34-year-old Navy veteran and laser technician. No firearm was ever found. Jenuwine was unarmed.

Jenuwine did not match the dispatch description, which specified two Black men in the vehicle. Independent autopsy ruled his death a homicide by asphyxia—he bled internally from multiple non-fatal gunshot wounds while officers watched and made no effort to call emergency services. He remained conscious and bled out over more than five minutes.

The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office updated its use-of-force policy in 2022 following George Floyd protests, classifying intentional PIT maneuvers as deadly force and mandating verbal engagement, de-escalation, and mandatory medical evaluation. Deputies violated this policy: they conducted maneuvers without verbal contact, fired without warning, and did not summon aid. Michigan State Police investigation concluded in April 2026 and was forwarded to the Michigan Attorney General for potential criminal prosecution. The deputies involved—Jacob Gombos and Jonathan Early—were placed on paid administrative leave but received 2024 commendations for "distinguished service," signaling institutional refusal to hold officers accountable for the killing. Jenuwine's family is pursuing a civil wrongful death lawsuit.