ELPD Shooting Referred to Michigan Attorney General’s Office

The Michigan Attorney General’s Office will review the April 15 fatal police shooting of Isaiah Kirby and decide whether or not criminal charges are brought against officers involved, according to a press release sent by the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday.

Kirby, 21, was shot several times by police after he allegedly stabbed attorney Douglas Mielock. The East Lansing Police Department previously said in a press release that Kirby and Mielock did not know each other.

Footage released by the police department in May showed that Kirby was running along the side of Abbot Road in the direction of police when he was shot. A few seconds after he is initially shot, Kirby is on his knees appearing to hold a knife to his own throat when three more shots are fired. Kirby then begins to crawl when several more shots are fired.

The incident has drawn protests locally, as residents who have spoken at city meetings have said that Kirby did not pose a threat when the second and third wave of shots were fired.

The press release from the county prosecutor’s office says Michigan State Police have completed an investigation into the incident and submitted findings regarding the use of force and potential for criminal charges against officers involved.

It is standard procedure for deadly officer-involved shootings to be referred to the State Attorney General’s Office for review, according to the release. County Prosecutor John Dewane also disclosed a personal and professional relationship with Mielock.

Previously, the ELPD said in a press release there were four officers involved in the shooting: Beck Martin, Brennan Surman, Benjamin Saylor and Zane Johnson Chasteen.