EAST LANSING, Mich — The Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office has referred the East Lansing police shooting case to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office due, in part, to a potential conflict of interest.
The incident occurred April 15, when officers with the East Lansing Police Department responded to the area of Abbot and Lake Lansing Roads following reports of a retail fraud incident and a stabbing in a nearby parking lot.
According to authorities, officers encountered 21-year-old Michigan State University student Isaiah Kirby, who was armed with a knife and running toward officers. Multiple officers fired their weapons, resulting in Kirby’s death.
Before the shooting, attorney Douglas Mielock sustained multiple stab wounds when he was allegedly attacked by Kirby.
Video released by the ELPD last month shows officers ordering Kirby to the ground while he ran towards them with a knife. Officers fired a first set of shots. After Kirby was knocked to the ground by the gunfire, officers are heard telling him to drop the knife several times before firing multiple rounds a second time and then a third time. The video shows multiple East Lansing officers firing at Kirby.
Kirby Family supports Prosecutor Recusal
The family of Isaiah Kirby is supporting Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane's decision to step away from the case. They say the independent review is necessary to ensure public confidence in the process.
"This case is about more than Isaiah Christopher Kirby. It is about maintaining public trust that every investigation involving the use of deadly force by law enforcement will be handled fairly, transparently, and without influence from personal relationships or institutional interests," family attorney Teresa Caine Bingman said.
The family said video evidence shows officers used excessive force, pointing to the timing and number of shots fired and continued firing after Kirby was no longer capable of posing a threat. They are calling for a complete and impartial review of all available evidence, including body-worn camera footage, dash camera footage, witness videos and testimony, forensic evidence, autopsy findings, and police use-of-force policies.
The family's independent investigation is continuing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Justice for Isaiah Tip Line at 1-844-9ISAIAH (1-844-947-2424).
WATCH: What will the investigation into the officer-involved shooting look like?
The Michigan State Police investigated the officer-involved shooting and submitted its findings to the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office for review of the officers’ use of force and any potential criminal charges.
Under the prosecutor’s office policy, all officer-involved shootings resulting in death are referred to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office for an independent review. The prosecutor’s office has not released any further information about the MSP investigation.
The Ingham County Prosecutor also identified both a personal and professional relationship with Mielock, creating a conflict of interest.
As a result, the case has been formally referred to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office for review and any determination regarding potential criminal charges.
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