Trooper dies following shooting

Police officers and other first responders are in mourning following Monday’s shooting death of a Michigan State Police Trooper in Ludington. The Michigan State Police say Paul Butterfield died late Monday night during emergency surgery, after he was shot during a traffic stop. A man and woman exchanged gunfire with Butterfield during the stop. The pair fled but were captured shortly after in Manistee County. Authorities there say the pair were involved in a shootout there, too. The male suspect was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Trooper Butterfield joined the MSP in 1999, graduating as a member of the 118th Trooper Recruit School. He has served at the Manistee and Hart posts. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army. In the meantime, Gov. Rick Snyder has ordered U.S. flags on all state buildings and within the state Capitol Complex to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Trooper Butterfield.  (MRN)