Benton Harbor Man Killed In Standoff With Police

A kidnapping suspect is dead following a standoff with police in Benton Township on Wednesday morning. Police were called shortly after six am when an employee of The Willows assisted living facility in Royalton Township was abducted by her estranged husband, 44 year old Marcus Meridy, of Benton Harbor. He then took her to the American Inn on Napier Avenue in Benton Township, where the standoff later began. Michigan State Police Lieutenant Mike Dawson says officers fatally shot the suspect.
“At one point, he discharged his firearm inside the hotel room,” Dawson said. “At that point, our support team made entry, the suspect shot at them, and they returned fire. He has been killed.”

The victim, Kenyatta Wright, also of Benton Harbor, was shot in the arm by her husband and was taken to Lakeland Hospital. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says that one police officer was hit by gunfire, but in his flack jacket. Family of Meridy in were also present during the standoff. His sister, Diane Young, didn’t approve of the way the situation was handled.

“They brought her out,” Young said. “They put her on the ambulance, and told me, my mother, and my family that he was OK. He’s not OK. He’s dead.”

Meridy was in a room on the hotel’s second floor, and police said the hotel was evacuated while the standoff continued. Saint Joseph Schools were also notified of the incident by police, as the district has multiple buildings nearby. However, the district did not put any buildings on lockdown.