Trigger Warning: Family Violence, Emotional Abuse, Physical Abuse, Mental Abuse, Incest, Childhood Abuse, Sexual Assault, Substance Use and Abuse. There will be crime scene photos that may also contain disturbing imagery. Please do not continue if any of the above topics trigger you.
Methodology: I relied mostly on Newspaper Articles, Oral Interviews from his living children, and Ancestry.com to piece together Percy's family life.
The night of the 20th of March entering into the twilight hours of the 21st of March 1972 will always live on in the minds of my grandmother Helen, my mother Lisa and my Uncles. The shootout between Percy, Roger and the Berrien County Sheriff Deputies took place at the small house that the Wright's called home, ultimately culminating with the deaths of two men in the family, Percy and Roger.
Based on the awful things I knew about Grandpa Percy, I simply assumed the shooting was cut and dry or at least as cut and dry as an officer involved shooting could be. After all, Percy was no saint. He had convictions for Petit Larceny, multiple DUIs and Assault and Battery with a Weapon. Percy was one of Berrien Counties residents who was problematic for the police. So too was Roger who by the age of 18 was already deep into a heroin addiction and had accrued a number of convictions for disorderly conduct. Percy was always described as a violent man, the type of husband from whence horror stories originate. He was abusive towards his wife Helen and used scare tactics on his children. When drunk, Mr. Hyde would surface and anybody who drew his ire could be caught in his violent crosshairs (though to our knowledge he never killed anyone). My mother, who recounted most of these stories, was terrified of the man. She keeps the 8X10 photo of her mom and dad hidden because Percy's eyes still haunt her to this day [2]. Interestingly enough, I get nervous around anyone with blue eyes with pinpoint pupils as it conjures images of my own father, whom I have not seen in 10 or so years. There’s that generational trauma handing off phobias nobody asked for.
Below is a genogram indicative of the family after the drowning death of Michael in 1969 but before the shootout in March 1972.Below is a genogram indicative of the family after the drowning death of Michael in 1969 but before the shootout in March 1972 [3].
Over the years, I heard stories about that fateful night in 1972 from family members. My mother told me she was at her grandmother’s house, which was a few houses down the street from the family home when the shooting took place. Whether she was there by chance or by the intuition of her mother as Uncle Rick indicated in the interview [3], she was fortunate not to be home the night of the shooting. The proximity would mean the family would hear the gun shots and see the emergency crews driving down the street. Mom recalled seeing lights everywhere from the emergency vehicles. I asked her to recount what she knew about why police were at the house. She told me that one of Roger friends was at the house and had a warrant, so the officers were attempting to pick him up. She was told her father started firing at the armed officers and when Roger ran to his side to assist his shot father, he was shot in the back and killed by officers as well. When I was younger, I did not think much about the conduct of the police as I grew up being told police officers were good. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I discovered that police officers were not all good or all bad, they just were. Some were overzealous, others corrupt, others used the position as a means to assert authority over others rather than maintain the peace. Now that I am more educated on the topic of police conduct and have worked with and in law enforcement, I have a better understanding of the complexities of the situation I will be describing below.
As I have grown, I have become increasingly interested in understanding my genealogical roots as a means to help me understand myself and other family members. After downloading a number of newspaper articles from Newspapers.com relating to the shooting, I began to have more questions than simple answers. My undergraduate degree was a B.A. in Criminal Justice and History with my Masters being in History. I was always interested in law enforcement, particularly the DEA, which I will discuss more when we cover my father’s line. In high school I interned with the local police department and practically memorized the criminal statutes in Texas as well as the penalties for said offenses. I was in an early college program that allowed me to start completing college level criminal justice courses during high school, which were pretty much the only classes I had an A in. Following schooling, I was a juvenile probation officer for approximately 3 years. It isn’t surprising that this particular incident, that I was not even alive to witness, could keep me up at night.
The Scene
The image on the left incudes is a current google map satellite image to help gain perspective of the scene. The image of the home on the top right was shot by a newspaper following the shootout. The floor plan in the lower right was created with the assistance of my mother who recalled the layout. My mother describes the house as small. My grandmother describes it as the little cottage. The home was no more than a 800 sq ft single family dwelling, having two bedrooms and one bathroom. At the time of the incident, this home housed Percy, his wife, and 5 children, Roger (18), Paul (15), Tony (12), Rick (11), Lisa (8) [5].
Upon pulling up to the house, the officers would have seen the aforementioned small house with an even smaller porch. The deputies would have had to traverse 4 steps to get to the front door. The porch was quite small and would have barely fit two grown men. Upon entering, officers would have seen a small dining area that opened up to a small living area. To the left they would have seen a fridge and kitchen counter that backed to other walled in rooms, the bathroom and main bedroom.
Straight back, the officers would have seen a door that opened into another room. I know this room to be the kid’s room, but it was referred to as the back room in newspaper accounts. This is where Percy hailed with a shotgun and revolver and that ignited the shootout.
The Shootout
Deputies Abbot Taylor and Jimmie Coburn knocked on Percy's front door late Monday night on the 20 March 1979 stating they were looking for a man named Roger Manns on an arrest warrant for nonsupport that was filed by his wife. Newspaper accounts vary but most do state that upon initial contact with the Wright Residence, the "elder Wright" was carrying a firearm and said something to the effect that they were not going to take anyone. After some arguing, Manns left the house and was taken into custody without incident [6 & 7]. After retrieving Manns, Deputies Abbott Taylor and Jimmie Coburn retreated to their patrol car and radioed for backup to arrest Percy whom they had no warrant or just cause to not only arrest but enter his residence since there was no evidence indicating he was being specifically threatening to officers [8]. The Officer’s report acknowledged that Percy was drunk, so I hardly believe he was being obedient but rising to the level of entering his home? Mind you, this is late Monday night on the 20 March 1972.
The information that led to the knock on Percy's door was ultimately a series of events that transpired over the course of the evening. The St. Joseph's Herald-Press Final edition does the most comprehensive review of the incident. According to Sheriff Jewel, earlier in the day on 20 March 1972, Percy called the sheriff’s department to let them know Manns was driving his car and he did not want to be held culpable if something happened. State police pulled over Manns later that night for driving without a license and ticketed him. When no warrant was returned after running his name through LEIN, he was released. According to the article, deputies from Berrien County overheard the radio chatter and found a warrant for Manns for non-support and asked the state police the direction Manns was heading in. The information led them to the Wright's home [8].
Reinforcements arrived to assist Coburn and Taylor. Each newspaper article aside from the ones written from the Associated Press describe what happened next differently, depending on if Prosecutor Taylor is giving the events as he understood them or how Sheriff Jewel understood it to have happened. The Image below represents the different reports given to newspapers of the officers who entered the home. While I understand these articles are a product of only about half a day’s investigation, it appears it only took a total of 2.5 days to exonerate the officers.
According to Sheriff Jewel, the shootout began after five officers, Deputies Taylor, Coburn, Knuth, and Detectives Imoos and Reeves, reentered the home after Percy Wright disregarded orders to put down his revolver and fired at deputies, initially missing. He still refused to put down the gun. Then Roger entered the room and began to rack his rifle at which time deputies opened fire on Roger. Percy then opened fire on the officers and struck Deputies Taylor and Coburn and deputies returned fire. Sheriff Jewel said the revolver was fired 5 times, the shotgun once and the rifle was not fired [8].
The Detective Bureau at the Sheriff’s Department stated that the officers fired 11 shots in total. They said that four officers were inside, stating that Deputy Knuth remained outside and never fired a shot [8].
Prosecutor Taylor recounted that it appeared that the 3 pistol shots fired by Detective Immoos struck Percy though ballistic experts still needed to verify this information as one of Percy’s wounds could have come from Deputy Coburn’s firearm. He further relayed that Roger was mostly likely struck twice by Deputy Taylor with a third shot coming from his father’s pistol. Deputies Taylor and Coburn were wounded in this, with narrow misses from Percy’s shotgun blast and pistol shot [9].
Prosecutor Taylor ruled the incident Justifiable Homicide on March 22, 1972 based on the following evidence. Firstly, observations at the scene of the shootout, interviews with witnesses and autopsy results. The autopsy showed that a non lethal shot from Percy did strike Roger. Deputies Coburn and Taylor were treated for bullet wounds and released [9].
The post mortem autopsies indicated Percy and Roger were both hit with three shots apiece. Service Revolvers were responsible for all three bullets located in Percy. At least 2 for Roger were from service revolvers [10]. Percy was shot in the chest and back and Roger was shot in the temple, nose, and shoulder [8].
Freedom of Information Request
I submitted a freedom of information request from the Berrien County Sheriff's Department and only received the following document to try to better understand the decisions that would come next. Please see the PDF documents below showing what was sent and received.
As you can see, I received one piece of supplemental information that was not only redacted but really difficult to read. I included the transcript I made after using photoshop to make the text more legible. No where in these details does the Berrien County Sheriff's Department include execution of a warrant on the residence or even execution of a warrant on Percy or Roger. While I understand that past archival paperwork can be misplaced, thrown away, or destroyed from a natural disaster, it is disconcerting that only one supplemental page of an officer involved shooting remains. I also called the clerk of court who informed me that only convictions would be stored. Seeing as this case is wrapped up nicely as Justifiable Homicide by the then prosecutor, Prosecutor Ronald Taylor by 23 March 1972, just two days following the incident, there would be no convictions or ongoing investigations. Going off this one piece of investigative supplemental information, we can see that Sgt. Fishburn called Sheriff Jewell around 12:15 a.m. on 21 March 1972 alerting him that Deputies Coburn, Taylor, Reeves and Imoos exchange fire with Percy and Roger Wright. It does show that empty shell casings were removed from the crime scene and put in an evidence envelope. The complaint written in the investigative document was Felonious Assault: Assault with a deadly weapon, which is interesting as this only became the charge once the deputies came back to the home the second time [11].
The Aftermath
The initial reaction was one of anger and confusion. Helen, along with some of Roger's friends, staged a peaceful protest outside the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, demanding an investigation [11]. The Wright family was a poor, lower class family who held it just above the subsistence line. Now, they lost their patriarch and the oldest son, both of which could work to help provide for the family. Helen was left with the loss of her husband, loss of another son (Michael drowned in 1969) and a home filled with reminders of the shooting that happened. There was blood that had to be cleaned up and bullet holes that needed to be fixed but with limited resources, the Wrights could only do the best they could and live with the rest. There were a lot of unresolved feelings of anger and grief that the family had to sort through. Grandma Helen ultimately remarried but married another alcoholic. The family moved to Chicago where the boys would drink and use drugs to ease the pain. Lisa got somewhat lucky because she enrolled in a Technical School and would even graduate high school, a feat few in my family had accomplished at this time. She too would marry an abusive alcoholic. Generational cycle of trauma Continued.
Lingering Questions
As stated before, I spent a lot of time looking for newspaper articles pertaining to the shooting. I found several news outlets in the area that did run articles about the shooting. After reading through no less than 5 newspaper accounts of the incident, I began to realize how quickly everything happened, and I don’t mean how quickly the shooting happened. With how small the house was that seemed to be obvious in my mind. My problem comes with the investigation. Here is the timeline with my commentary (in red) based upon matching all these newspaper’s timelines up. The article linked above comes was published a few months after the incident during a political fight for Sheriff between Sheriff Jewel and Heward. The questions may have been politically motivated but even so, they are some damn good questions. Sources specific to this timeline are also included in this section.
Shooting began at 12:01 a.m. Mar 21, 1972[2]
Why would you execute a warrant at midnight especially for a nonviolent underlying charge of failure to pay support for a person who does not consider this his primary residence?
Percy answered the door the first time with a revolver and stated they weren’t “taking anyone” [5][6]
They would then need a warrant for this house, not one simply for a guy who may or may not be there but to enter the premises. Even if Percy answered the door threateningly and was holding a gun, they would still need a warrant. Did they get one after he answered the door the first time?
Deputies Abbot Taylor and Jimmie Coburn attempt do arrest 21 year old Richard Manns on a child[3][4] support warrant as he was a allegedly a guest at the Wright home.
Still, did they have a search warrant for Percy’s House? Why did they have to let him in? Manns is taken and then they choose to go back and radio for assistance.
Deputies went back to their car and radioed for help and were joined by three other officers[7] Did they get in touch with someone at this time to secure a warrant?
After putting Manns into the back of the police car, Coburn, Taylor and Several Officers went into the house to arrest Wright [8]. Why? They already executed the warrant. Is there some new charge\warrant that allows them to enter and arrest Percy? The officers already know Percy is drunk and irritated. Why escalate a situation? Percy is in his own home and there did not appear to be a threat to anyone except law enforcement. Why use deadly force? I find it hard to believe they did not expect an open assault when they called for backup as they already knew Percy.
Deputies surrounded the house while Taylor and Coburn went to the front door[9].
This was one account. Other accounts had up to four people in the small house when the shoot out occurred.
Deputies were admitted to the house the second attempt [10][11]. by who – grandma Helen and the kids were all away? If it was Roger, why did they not take him down right then, so he didn't have an opportunity to get a gun. This makes no sense!!!! Who opened the door!
Percy opens fire – A man who has been in the military and goes hunting hits Deputy Coburn in the arm twice and Deputy Taylor in the finger but no lethal shots? He was drunk at the time but such a small house.
Deputies returned fire, killing Percy and his son Roger; Percy died at the hospital. His son died on scene [14][15][16] .
Why were they there in the first place? It was midnight. They already had Manns. Manns warrant was from a nonsupport warrant, which in no way is violent and/or a very pressing matter.
Percy killed by Ronald Imoos and/or Coburn [17] .
Ballistics proves this in two days? They were that fast?
Roger killed by two shots from Taylor and one from his father Autopsy shows that all three shots in Percy came from service revolvers[18].
Autopsy complete in 2 days?
Roger Wright shot as he was racking a rifle (about to fire)[19] One nonlethal shot that hit Roger may have been fired by Percy.[20][21] With close quarters, I could see an accidental shot having been fired in that direction, but I do not understand how he was allowed time to get to a rifle as Roger would have had to let the officers in as he and his father were the only two in the house. Note: the autopsy shows Percy being struck twice in the chest and once in the back and Roger struck on his temple, nose, and shoulder. It would appear they may not have been fully facing the officers. I understand standing to the side to lessen the mass but turning around unless it was to look at Roger, I don't understand.
Deputy Taylor lost part of his finger and Coburn suffered two gunshot wounds to his right arm[22][23][24]
Seized a rifle, shotgun and pistol[25] Was Percy firing two guns? Not unheard of but….
March 23, 1972 Prosecutor Jewell exonerates the police and declares the shootings Justifiable Homicides.
They really had all the evidence needed to conduct a thorough investigation of an officer involved shooting that took the lives of two people, neither of which were on the warrant and were in their private residence.?
Section Sources
[1] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[2] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[3] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[4] The Escanaba Daily Press, Fri Jan. 21, 1972
[5] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[6] The Escanaba Daily Press, Fri Jan. 21, 1972
[7] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[8] The Herald Palladium, Sun Feb 6, 2005
[9] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[10] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[11] The Escanaba Daily Press, Fri Jan. 21, 1972
[12] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[13] The Escanaba Daily Press, Fri Jan. 21, 1972
[14] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[15] The Escanaba Daily Press, Fri Jan. 21, 1972
[16] The Herald-Press, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[17] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[18] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[19] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[20] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[21] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[22] Lansing State Journal, Tue Mar 21, 1972
[23] The Escanaba Daily Press, Fri Jan. 21, 1972
[24] The News Palladium, Wed, Mar 22, 1972
[25] The News Palladium, Mar. 21, 1972
[14]
Source Material
[1] Image of the Wright Children with Percy in 1962 at their home in Coloma, Michigan, Photograph; privately held by Helen Duncan. Nicole Joseph took a digital image of this photo from Helen Duncan's private photo collection in November 2022.
[2] Phone interview with Lisa Wright, phone interview with Nicole Joseph, 6 February 2024.
[3] Interview with Rick Wright and Lisa Wright conducted by Nicole Joseph and Melody Colter via Microsoft Teams on 23 December 2023. Automatic Transcript saved via Teams and Sound Recording of Interview with Nicole Joseph.
[4] Wright Children near Christmas Tree, photograph, location and date unknown; privately held by Helen Duncan. Nicole Joseph took a digital image of this photo from Helen Duncan's private photo collection in November 2022.
[5] Discussion and Image of floor plan as drawn by Lisa Wright, text message with Nicole Joseph, 7 February 2024.
[6] "2 Killed, 2 Hurt in Shootout," Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Michigan, 21 March 1972, News. Digital Images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-2-killed-2-hurt-i/136662712/), citing original p. 1.
[7] "Father, Son Slain During State Shootout",The Escanaba Daily Press, Escandaba, Michigan, 21 Jan 1972, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-escanaba-daily-press/136770327/), citing original p. 19.
[8] "Two Slain in Gun Battle with Berrien Deputies!", The Herald-Press, Saint Joseph, Michigan, 21 March 1972, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press-two-slain-in-gun-battle/136775115/), citing original p. 1.
[9]"Prosecutor Rules on Gun Deaths" The Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 22 Mar 1972, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-palladium-prosecutor-rules-on/136774507/), citing original p.12.
[10] "Father, Son Deaths Ruled 'Justifiable Homicide," The Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 22 Mar 1972, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-palladium/136772563/) citing original p. 1.
[11] "Berrien County Sheriff Department Supplemental Investigation Report," Complainant Deputy Abbot Taylor on March 20-21, 1979. Received via E-mail from Gayle Bassett, Records Clerk III on 22 March 2023.
[12] "Mysterious Call Alerts Press to Pickets at Jail", The Herald-Press, St. Joseph, Michigan, 31 July 1972, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com, (https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-press/136771073/), citing original p. 3.
[13] "Heward Asks Probe of Deadly Gunfight," The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mi, 21 Jun 1921, News, Digital Images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/364978432/?match=1&clipping_id=139904558# : accessed 30 Jan 2024), citing original p. 44).
[14] In Remembrance of Percy and Roger Wright, Funeral Program, March 23, 1979, Coloma Michigan. privately held by Helen. Nicole Joseph took a digital image of this photo from Helen's private photo collection in November 2022.
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