Pero’s grandfather, Alan Pero, described him as someone who “never had one mean bone in his body.” Gauthier said her son was “a big teddy bear” and “everybody loved him.”

Bad River Band Chairman Robert Blanchard said he has not heard directly from sheriff’s officials about why Pero was shot and he questioned why the deputy had to take the teen’s life.

“This is a tragedy that should not have happened. There’s other ways to do things than to pull out a gun and shoot him,” Blanchard said.

Sheriff’s officials said the deputy was not injured and referred further questions on the shooting to the Department of Justice. The agency said its Division of Criminal Investigation continues to collect evidence and will turn over its reports to the Ashland County District Attorney’s Office, hopefully within 30 days.

Blanchard said Pero came from a good family and attended Ashland Middle School.

“It’s hard to talk about it without getting emotional,” the chairman said.

The superintendent of the School District of Ashland, Keith Hilts, said some students are struggling with their classmate’s death, but mental health professionals from the community are on hand to help them. Hilts said Pero was involved in the school band and was a member of the drumming group, which will honor him at a Veterans Day assembly Friday.