BARRY COUNTY, Mich. — The Barry County man who was shot twice by deputies and later died had already suffered a non-lethal, self-inflicted gunshot wound to his own head, according to Michigan State Police.
New details released by MSP Wednesday night state that Ralph Elliott, 41, of Baltimore Township was armed with two handguns during an incident on the 9800 block of Banfield Road on Saturday night.
Elliott emerged from a home owned by his mother approximately 25 minutes after deputies arrived on scene. Elliott had fired two shots prior to their arrival, according to the MSP report. The first hit nothing; the second hit Elliott in his head.
Elliott ignored several commands by deputies to stop his approach towards them. After an attempt to be subdued with a taser failed, Elliott reached into his front pocket. That’s when at least one deputy fired five shots with a patrol rifle, hitting Elliott in the hip twice.
Elliott died at a local hospital later that evening.
Court records show Elliott was on probation following a domestic incident in August 2012.
Elliott’s wife made the 911 call on Saturday around 7:00 p.m., telling the operator her husband had a gun.
