Holly MatkinBay City, MI – A Bay County sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot an armed suspect at the scene of a woman’s murder will not face criminal charges and has returned to duty.
The Bay County Prosecutor’s Office determined Bay County Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher VanHorn was justified in using deadly force against 18-year-old Lamar Davis during the Aug. 28 confrontation, the Midland Daily News reported.
Michigan State Police Lieutenant Kimberly Vetter confirmed that Deputy VanHorn was cleared of any wronging, according to MLive.
He returned to regular duty on Oct. 3.
Bay County Prosecutor Nancy Borushko did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the case, MLive reported.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:25 a.m. on Aug. 28, after the Bay County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a report of a shooting at the Bangor Downs Townhouses located at 23 Orford Court.
Deputies arrived at the scene to find 27-year-old Bethany Taylor dead from a gunshot wound, the Midland Daily News reported.
Investigators said Taylor was killed inside her home in front of her two sons, ages three and two.
When the deputies entered her apartment, they were confronted by Davis, who was armed with a gun, according to police.
Investigators said the suspect threatened the deputies with the weapon before he was fatally shot by Deputy VanHorn, the Midland Daily News reported.
Davis was transported to McLaren Bay Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to MLive.
No deputies were physically injured during the officer-involved shooting.
Determining the nature of the relationship between Taylor and Davis is part of the ongoing investigation, Lt. Vetter told the Midland Daily News.
The investigation is expected to wrap up sometime in the next several weeks, according to the sergeant.
Deputy VanHorn was placed on paid administrative leave in the wake of the fatal officer-involved shooting, as per protocol, until he was cleared of wrongdoing by the Bay County Prosecutor’s Office, MLive reported.
Deputy VanHorn served as an Arenac County sheriff’s deputy for several years prior to joining the BCSO in 2017.
