MSP Trooper shoots, kills armed civilian

HESSEL — A trooper with the Michigan State Police is on paid administrative leave after they shot and killed an armed civilian Tuesday night in the eastern U.P.

Just before 11:00 p.m., two MSP troopers from the St. Ignace Post and a Mackinac County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a residence in Hessel to perform a well-being check on a suicidal subject. When officers opened the front door, they found a 51-year-old man, identified as Dean Bruning, armed with a handgun.

One of the troopers shot and killed Bruning, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The circumstances leading up to the shooting are still under investigation.

The shooting incident is currently under investigation by the Michigan State Police. When the investigation is completed, it will be forwarded to the Mackinac County Prosecutor’s Office for review.