x
Breaking News
More () »

Man shot 3 times by Wyoming police died from self-inflicted gunshot wound, autopsy says

An officer-involved shooting from over the weekend has now been deemed a suicide following a medical examiner's autopsy.
Credit: Thinkstock
Police lights image, stock photo.

WYOMING, Mich. -- The medical examiner says the man involved in a recent officer-involved shooting died of a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

The incident happened Friday, March 30 around 5:40 p.m. Wyoming Police were dispatched to Resurrection Cemetery on reports of an armed, suicidal individual.

Officers attempted to help the man, later identified as 52-year-old Joel Thomas Peloquin, from Wayland. Peloquin pulled out his gun when officers arrived, forcing two officers to fire three separate shots at him.

Peloquin then put his gun to his head and fired a shot. Peloquin was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

The Kent County Medical Examiner's Officer performed an autopsy on Peloquin and determined that his death was due to the shot to his head. Although he was shot by Wyoming Police officer three times -- those wounds were not fatal.

The Kent County Sheriff's Department is investigating, which is normal in any officer-involved shooting. Investigators say there were three people who saw the shooting, in addition to the police officers at the scene.

This incident is still a part of an active, ongoing investigation by the Kent County Sheriff's Department. No more information is expected to be released until the county prosecutor's office can review the case.

►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the WZZM 13 app now.

April Stevens is a multi-platform producer at WZZM 13. Have a news tip? Email news@wzzm13.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter.

Before You Leave, Check This Out