OCEANA COUNTY, Mich. — A first responder killed a man threatening to harm others with an explosive device, Michigan State Police say. That man has now been identified.
Jonathan Jurecki, 44, from Oceana County, was killed on Saturday by a gunshot wound.
Troopers from the Hart Post were first called to a house in the 2000 block of Skeels Road in Oceana County on the report of a man acting erratically.
There, they saw Jurecki walking on Skeels and Nichols Road. When he spotted police, he ran into the woods and came out carrying a wired device, stating he was going to kill everyone, police say.
Residents in the area were quickly evacuated. Troopers from the Grand Rapids Post and the bomb squad were called to assist.
Negotiators spent several hours speaking with Jurecki.
Around 7:45 p.m., he made a statement perceived as a threat, troopers say. That led to one first responder shooting and killing Jurecki.
On Sunday, MSP said after extensive efforts by the MSP Bomb Squad to render the device safe, it was found to be a hoax device. This means the device was designed to look like a bomb, but is missing explosives or other components that would make the device function as a real bomb.
The incident is still under investigation.
Jenna Bob was at the end of her driveway when she heard the shots that killed Jurecki.
"He went out, ran out into the woods and grabbed a bag," said Bob. "And he came out with a bag. That's when he told them that he had a bomb and he was gonna blow them up if they didn't get back."
Bob said she grew up with him. She said he was a friend, and that he had mental health issues.
"I know they need to take it into consideration that it could have been real, most definitely," said Bob. "But he can't... he can't make a bomb."
Bob added that she was saddened by how everything ended.
"Still like it's not real," she said. "I don't want to believe it's real, because he was, he was good more times than he was bad."
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, know there is help available to you. The Michigan Crisis Access Line offers 24/7 help and answers calls to 988. You can also text 988 for help.
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