Prosecutor’s office investigates self-defense shooting claims

Home News Prosecutor’s office investigates self-defense shooting claims

The Hillsdale County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the mental history of James A. Momenee, 47, who was shot and killed Feb. 12 before making any charges in relation to his death.
Momenee’s father-in-law, Edward Michael, told a Jackson Citizen Patriot newspaper reporter that he killed Momenee in self-defense, but no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting yet.
A “complete understanding” of Momenee’s mental history and Michael’s self-defense claims are needed before moving forward, Hillsdale County Prosecuting Attorney Neal Brady told the Collegian.
“Self-defense claims are another element you have to consider before making charges,” Brady said. “You don’t charge somebody of a crime you don’t know you can convict them of.”
The Hillsdale County Sheriff’s department responded to a domestic dispute call made at 1:30 a.m. Feb. 12. Upon arriving at the location on Tripp Road in Ransom Township, police found Momenee dead.
“The facts aren’t in dispute,” Brady said. “We are still conducting an investigation of the mental history of the deceased and the family history to have a good understanding of what was going on in the minds of Edward and Angela most importantly. Like, what was their fear level at the time and whether certain actions were warranted.”
Chief of the City of Hillsdale Police Department Scott Hephner told the Collegian his department has responded to calls from the couple before.
“We’ve had to deal with them before,” Hephner said. “One time, I remember we were called in on a stalking issue between them. They’re a married couple, but they were having problems.”
According to Michigan criminal records, Michael has no criminal history, but Momenee was convicted of crimes in 1987, 1989, and 2013.