AG Reviews Fatal Feb. 2025 Michigan State Police Shooting in Port Huron: Trooper Acted in Self Defense

LANSING – Today, the Michigan Department of Attorney General announced it has concluded the review of the February 12th, 2025, officer-involved shooting death of Mark Ryan, 52, of Port Huron, without issuing charges against the Michigan State Police Trooper who fatally shot Ryan, finding they acted in self-defense. It is the policy of the Michigan State Police (MSP) to send all officer involved shootings to the Department of Attorney General for review. 

On February 12th, 2025, MSP Troopers and St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a Port Huron home following a 9-1-1 call wherein the caller claimed Mark Ryan was intoxicated, that he intended to take his own life, and that he wanted someone to shoot him. Upon arrival, officers observed shouting from inside the home, and one resident informed officers Mr. Ryan was armed with a BB pistol. Two residents were escorted out of the home and into police vehicles for their own safety. Mr. Ryan exited the home at this time, carrying a pistol in his right hand. Officers on-scene were not able to readily discern whether the pistol was a BB gun or a real firearm. The weapon was visually indistinguishable as such and did not bear an orange barrel tip typically indicative of a BB gun. 

Mr. Ryan did not respond to commands to drop the weapon, and returned inside the home and remerged multiple times. Ryan exited the home once more and again refused to respond to or comply with orders to drop the weapon. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, telling him they did not “want to shoot you,” to which Ryan responded “how about I want you too?” Ryan descended the porch steps and walked toward officers, ignoring at least eight orders from Troopers to stop walking toward them. Ryan continued toward officers and verbally threatened to shoot them. 

Ryan started walking directly toward one Trooper, while carrying his pistol in his right hand with his arms raised to shoulder height. The Trooper retreated several steps backward, and once again ordered Ryan to stop walking, warning that he would shoot Ryan if he did not halt. Ryan continued toward the Trooper, who fired three shots, striking and killing Mark Ryan. 

Under MSP policy, all officer-involved shootings are first assigned to investigators from a different district than where the incident occurred. This investigation was conducted by the MSP 2nd District who then referred to matter the Department of Attorney General.  

Attorneys at the Department of Attorney General reviewed MSP reports, signed statements from MSP Troopers on-scene, audio recording of St. Clair County 9-1-1 call, St. Clair County Medical Examiner autopsy report, video footage from patrol car and body-worn cameras of  MSP Troopers and vehicles and those of St. Clair County Sheriff’s Deputies, a scale scene diagram, cell phone videos captured by witnesses, and other material. 

The legal issue in this case was whether the MSP Trooper acted in a legal manner during their interaction with Ryan when they used deadly force by discharging their weapon. Law enforcement officers have the same privilege of self-defense as anyone else. Shooting a gun in self-defense requires an honest and reasonable belief that an officer is in danger of being killed or seriously injured. If that person’s belief was honest and reasonable, they can act immediately to defend themselves. An officer’s decision about the level of force necessary to control an individual will be based on the officer’s perception of the threat and the subject’s apparent ability to carry out that threat. Furthermore, this Department is prohibited by law from issuing criminal charges in cases where it cannot prove the use of deadly force to be unjustified. 

Here, under all of the facts and circumstances presented, the Department concluded the MSP Trooper acted in self-defense and did not act in a manner that would substantiate criminal charges.  

The Department of Attorney General is available to lead or support any investigation of an officer-involved shooting at the request of any county prosecutor or law enforcement agency within the state and today renews this commitment and offer. 

The full report prepared by the Department of Attorney General assessing the laws applicable to this incident can be reviewed here (PDF).