Eagle Michael

How they died

Deadly force

Michael attended the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind and wore a hearing aid. Officer Michelle Madsen saw him walking with three adult males near a store where Michael had allegedly stolen a case of beer. When Madsen commanded them to sit on the curb and Michael did not, she may have grabbed his arm to check him for weapons. He pulled a BB gun from his belt, pointed it at her, and threatened to kill her. The three males claim they told Madsen that it was a BB gun and that Michael was deaf. She retreated to her car, commanded him to put the gun down, and pointed her pistol at him. Michael refused to put down the BB gun and may or may not have waved it at Madsen and at bystanders. She shot him once in the face.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Eagle Michael, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources