John Sherman Russell III, a 27-year-old male, died on September 6, 2014, in Greenville, Michigan, under unusual and tragic circumstances. In the early morning hours, Russell was discovered asleep and naked on a couch inside a home on South Barry Street by the homeowner. The homeowner, concerned for the safety of his family, armed himself with a shotgun and attempted to wake Russell and instruct him to leave the premises.
When Russell awoke and stood up, he grabbed the barrel of the shotgun, leading to a struggle with the homeowner, who was physically smaller. During the altercation, the homeowner discharged the weapon, inflicting a fatal wound upon Russell. The subsequent investigation into the incident revealed that Russell had been heavily intoxicated the night before, with a blood alcohol concentration of. 26, and also had traces of marijuana in his system.
Prior to arriving at the South Barry Street residence, Russell had been at a local bar and had later gone to a friend's house, where he reportedly caused property damage before leaving. It is believed that as he wandered through the neighborhood, he fell and sustained a head injury, after which he removed his clothing and eventually entered the home where the fatal encounter occurred. The Montcalm County Prosecuting Attorney, after reviewing reports from the Greenville Department of Public Safety, the Montcalm County Sheriff's Office, the Medical Examiner, and 911 recordings, concluded that the homeowner's actions were legally justified. The shooting was ruled as self-defense, as it was determined that the homeowner had a reasonable belief that he was in immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm. Consequently, no arrests were made, and no charges were filed against the homeowner in connection with the death of John Sherman Russell III.
