Michigan State Police investigating deadly officer-involved shooting in Branch County

BRANCH COUNTY, Mich. (WILX) - Michigan State Police (MSP) is investigating a deadly officer-involved shooting that happened in Coldwater Monday night.

At around 8 p.m. on March 18, the Coldwater Police Department and the MSP Emergency Support Team went to a house on Lucky Drive in Coldwater to serve a multi-count felony arrest warrant, including home invasion. The wanted subject, 32-year-old Richard Wilkinson, lived in the home.

When police arrived, Wilkinson allegedly confronted police armed with an AR-style rifle. In response, a trooper shot Wilkinson, resulting in fatal injuries. The trooper was placed on administrative leave pending investigation, per MSP policies.

Detectives from the MSP First District Investigative Response Team are investigating the incident. The MSP Lansing Lab is processing the scene and an autopsy will be performed at Corewell Health.

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