Benton Harbor officer fires at driver, police blame ‘love triangle’

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (WOOD) — An officer opened fire on a driver speeding toward a crowd of people in Benton Harbor early Saturday, according to police.

Around 3:45 a.m. Saturday, an officer with the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety discovered a “disturbance” surrounding a car on Vineyard Avenue between Pipestone Street and Cedar Street, police said. The officer got out of his cruiser and walked toward the crowd as the car drove east on Vineyard Avenue, stopped and turned around.

Then the car accelerated toward the crowd of people, police say. Two people were “swiped” by the vehicle as it stopped for a moment then accelerated again toward more people and the officer standing near his cruiser.

“When the vehicle reaccelerated, the Officer was in a position between the vehicle speeding towards him and his patrol car. He then fired into the vehicle,” wrote the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety in a release.

The driver, 18-year-old Elajah Walker of Benton Harbor, was shot in her right hand. She was taken out of the car and given first aid. Walker was taken to the hospital before being booked into the Berrien County Jail on felony charges.

Police say the situation was caused by “a love triangle.”

The officer who fired the weapon was placed on administrative leave during the investigation, which is standard protocol. Michigan State Police is investigating.

BHDPS said camera footage from the officer’s body cam and patrol car will be released after being reviewed and authorized for release by the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office.

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