Court Watching: Jonathan Cole of VBT sentenced to 3-15 yrs. in death of police officer

On Friday, March 15, Jonathan David Cole of Van Buren Township was sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison for the hit and run killing of a Detroit police officer.
Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Shannon Walker had him taken from the courtroom to immediately start serving his term, minus credit of 31 days for time served.
Officer Fadi Shukur, 30, was walking back to his patrol car at 2:40 a.m., Aug. 4, 2018, after helping disperse a crowd following a party on West McNichols near Stahelin, when Cole, who was age 19 at the time, hit him with his Jeep Liberty and drove off. Officer Shukur died later of his injuries.
Cole, who turned 20 on Dec. 10, had a jury trial scheduled for Feb. 5, but that was cancelled when he took a plea deal.
He pled no contest to charges of reckless driving causing death and failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death when at fault. The sentence was the same for each charge and the time is being served concurrently.
He was first charged with reckless driving causing serious impairment to a bodily function, but that was changed to reckless driving causing death after the officer died. Another charge of second-degree murder was dismissed by a judge in September.
Prosecutors said when Cole fled the scene, he went to the home of his parents in Van Buren Township where evidence was destroyed. They said they believe he had been drinking before the accident. While at home, he flushed the alcohol out of his system by drinking water and apple cider vinegar.
Later that day he turned himself in to police and then Officer Shukur succumbed to his injuries.
At the sentencing, speaking were Officer Shukur’s stepfather, who is also a Detroit police officer; Officer Shukur’s wife of 35 days; and his mother. The widow said she and her late husband forgive him and will be praying for him. All three said Officer Shukur was devoted to his job and just wanted to help people.
Cole expressed remorse for the “tragic accident.”