Officer kills man accused of stabbing 77-year-old in fight over mask, Michigan cops say

A fight over wearing face masks at a store led to an officer killing a man several miles away from the store, Michigan police say.

A 77-year-old man confronted a 43-year-old who wasn’t wearing a face mask inside a Quality Dairy store in Dimondale on Tuesday morning, Michigan State Police say.

The man not wearing a mask, who was refused service by the store, stabbed the older man during the argument and then left the scene, police say.

Eaton County Sheriff’s Office deputies found the 43-year-old several miles away in Delta Township and pulled over his vehicle, police say. The man got out of his vehicle and began approaching a deputy while holding a knife, leading the officer to retreat and shoot him, police say.

He was taken to a hospital where he died during surgery, according to police. The man was identified as Sean Ernest Ruis, a Grand Ledge resident.

The deputy is a 22-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.

The 77-year-old man who was stabbed is hospitalized in stable condition, the Lansing State Journal reported.

On Friday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer ordered residents to wear face masks in all indoor public spaces and outdoor areas where staying 6 feet away from others isn’t possible, saying efforts to control the coronavirus appear “stalled” in the state.

This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 9:41 AM with the headline "Officer kills man accused of stabbing 77-year-old in fight over mask, Michigan cops say."