Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller confirmed today the identity of the man fatally shot over the weekend by Traverse City police officers as Darnell Wilson.
Wilson, 50, was well known around Traverse City for his work at Costco, prior to Friday’s officer-involved shooting.
In a post from last year, local radio station Z93 named Wilson its “Northern Michigan Person of the Year,” writing about how he brightened shoppers’ days with his constant smile and friendly conversations.
Officers with the Traverse City Police Department were initially dispatched to an apartment complex on Munson Place to respond to a report of domestic violence involving a knife.
According to Michigan State Police, officers were charged by the man while he was armed with a knife. Prior to the shooting, officers ordered him to drop the weapon and deployed Tasers, which were ineffective. He was then fatally shot.
A 58-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after sustaining injuries during the domestic assault. The officers involved were not injured and are currently on paid administrative leave.
Michigan State Police say more information will be released as the investigation unfolds.
According to Lt. Miller, the Traverse City Police Department will be responsible for investigating the domestic assault connected to the incident.
