Death by Cop 2021-2025
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Don Albert Stapel Jr.
Gender : Male
Age : 59
Race : White
Date : 08/17/2025
Location : 7500 block of Fox Road
City : Mears
County : Oceana
State : Michigan
Agency : Michigan State Police, Fifth District Investigative Response Team
Officer(s) :Not Disclosed
Cause of Death : Gunshot
Event : Killed by police during arrest
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On 08/17/2025, Michigan State Police launched a search in the Silver Lake area near the 7500 block of Fox Road after a man was reported shot in the leg. Residents were instructed to shelter in place while police searched the area. At about 6:40 p.m., officers located 59-year-old Don Albert Stapel Jr. in an outbuilding. Police opened fire, killing him. The Fifth District Investigative Response Team is investigating.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/mears-residents-asked-to-shelter-in-place-while-msp-searches-for-a-man-believed-to-be-armed-in-the-woods
https://oceanacountypress.com/2025/08/17/shooting-suspect-shot-dead-by-officer/
https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/mears-armed-man-in-the-woods/69-1c565bc2-8eb3-418f-9d4e-2bdf00478c2f
