East Lansing Police released body camera footage of the fatal shooting of Isaiah Kirby, a 21-year-old Michigan State University student, on April 15. The video shows officers firing multiple rounds at Kirby as he ran toward them and attempted to drop a knife after being struck in the initial volley of gunfire.
Kirby was killed during a confrontation that began with a theft call at Lake Lansing and Abbot roads in East Lansing. Police said the situation evolved into a stabbing incident involving Kirby and 63-year-old attorney Douglas Mielock. Kirby was shot and killed after officers said he appeared to be brandishing a knife and running toward them.
The body camera footage shows officers firing in three separate waves. Kirby was knocked to the ground by the first hail of gunfire. Officers ordered him to drop the knife multiple times before firing additional rounds. The last shots came approximately 17 seconds after the first round of gunfire.
"Kirby was screaming in agony and was on his knees as officers ordered him to drop a knife," according to the body camera video.
The Michigan State Police are continuing to investigate the use of force by the four East Lansing officers involved in the shooting. All officers were placed on administrative leave and no charges have been filed as of Friday.
The four officers identified by the department are field training officer Beck Martin, who has been on the job for three years; officer Brennan Surman, a two-year veteran; officer Benjamin Saylor, who has been on the job for one year; and officer Zane Johnson Chasteen, a three-month veteran who was paired with Martin.
Teresa Bingman, an attorney for the Kirby family, said the family reviewed multiple complete and unedited body camera footage, dash camera footage and eyewitness videos. She said the videos showed officers did not use non lethal options before firing more than 20 rounds.
"The videos also show officers continuing to shoot after Isaiah had fallen to the ground and appeared to have been dead from the initial gunshot wounds," Bingman said.
The family said the raw video is consistent with what Karyn Kirby, Isaiah's mother, observed when she viewed her son's body. She reported seeing 17 gunshot wounds to his body, including wounds to his back. The family now believes there were more than 17 gunshot wounds that will be revealed once autopsy results are released.
"Nothing we have seen justified this extraordinary level of force that was neither necessary nor warranted under the circumstances," Bingman said.
East Lansing Police Chief Jennifer Brown said officers were initially called to the area on reports of a theft that quickly escalated to a stabbing. She said the suspect was observed running toward officers on the scene and refused to cooperate when ordered to drop the knife.
"Officers responded to the threat by shooting the suspect," Brown said.
The department released the footage after meeting with the Kirby family earlier in the day. The video was redacted as required by Michigan state law but includes multiple angles of the incident, 911 calls and witness footage.
Douglas Mielock was released from the hospital several days after the attack and is continuing to recover. His family members said he was stabbed 12 times in the face and suffered numerous defensive wounds.
The Michigan State Police investigation is ongoing. An autopsy report on Isaiah Kirby has not been made public.
This is a developing story. Updates will be published as more information becomes available.