The name of the unarmed driver who was shot and killed by police in Ypsilanti after a vehicle chase has been released.
John Andrew Jenuwine of St. Clair County was killed by Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office deputies in Ypsilanti on Jan. 6, 2026. His name was made public by Flood Law, a Michigan criminal defense and civil litigation firm. Flood Law was retained to represent Jenuwine’s family. Jenuwine died of multiple gunshot wounds, said Todd Flood, managing partner at Flood Law.
John Andrew Jenuwine of St. Clair County (Courtesy of Flood Law)
34-year-old Jenuwine was a veteran who served in the United States Navy for six years, Flood told The Eastern Echo.
“He was loved by many,” Flood said. “In fact, he was growing his hair out because a loved one in his family was having to go through chemo and needed a wig. He was growing his locks to provide hair for his loved one.”
Jenuwine grew up in Cottrellville Township and attended Marine City High School, graduating in 2009, an obituary published by Young Colonial Chapel Funeral Home said.
“This is a horrific time for our family as we continue to grieve the loss of our son. Watching him be killed has scarred us forever. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and no family should have to fight like we are just to get answers. We ask during this time that you respect our period of grieving," said a statement from Jenuwine's family provided by Flood Law.
Jenuwine was a motorcyclist and member of Hell's Our Home motorcycle club, the obituary said. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, it said.
"Our Brother passed away, John 'Man of Many names' Jenuwine," said a tribute posted to Facebook by the motorcycle club. "This man would give you the shirt off his back if he knew you needed it. He was a true brother through thick and thin."
Before he died, Jenuwine worked as a technician in laser equipment, Flood said.
Jenuwine periodically spent time in Ypsilanti for work because he had clients in the area, Flood said. The vehicle he was driving was used for his work, Flood said.
The police chase and shooting took place in Ypsilanti in the early morning of Jan. 6, 2026, on Prospect Road near Towner Street. Police had responded after two 911 callers reported a white moving or construction-style van driving erratically in Ypsilanti Township, as heard in the 911 dispatch recording. In the recording, the second caller said his wife was threatened by the driver with what he believed to be a handgun.
Soon after the 911 calls, deputies responded and attempted to initiate a traffic stop, a Jan. 22 statement from the county sheriff's office said. The van did not stop, and a vehicle pursuit began. After initiating a crash with the vehicle, deputies verbally instructed the occupant to show his hands, the dash cam video shows.
"He's got a gun," is heard shouted by one of the deputies in the dash cam video.
The footage shows shots fired by deputies. The sheriff's office confirmed in its statement that multiple deputies discharged their firearms. One deputy is heard reporting in the video that shots had been fired. No gun was recovered from the vehicle.
"Upon further investigation, it can now be confirmed that there was not a firearm found in the vehicle," Washtenaw County Sheriff Alyshia Dyer said in a Jan. 13, 2026 statement.
Flood said experts working with the firm counted 27 shots fired, which was estimated by sound in the video. Ballistic reports from the guns fired have not yet been made available, he said.
Flood told The Echo that an independent autopsy conducted by the Oakland County forensic medical examiner's office showed that Jenuwine was hit seven times with non-fatal shots and died of blood loss.
Flood Law intends to file a wrongful death civil lawsuit at the appropriate time, an email statement from Flood said. An independent investigation of the incident is currently underway by Michigan State Police. The deputies involved were immediately placed on administrative leave following the incident, the sheriff's office said.
Editor's note: The headline of this story was updated at 3:30 p.m., Feb. 6, 2026.
