Prosecutor Clears Officer, Family Says Decision Doesn't Stop Here

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Da'Quain Johnson family announced Thursday they will appeal to the Michigan Attorney General's office after Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker determined that Grand Rapids Police Officer Christopher Carlson was justified in fatally shooting Johnson during a chase on Feb. 18.

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker held a press conference to announce no charges against Officer Carlson, citing self-defense. "I cannot show that the decision of Officer Christopher Carlson for the Grand Rapids Police Department to use deadly force that night was not honest and reasonable," Becker said. "Putting it another way, in terms of when a self-defense claim, or defense of others claim, is raised, I have to prove that, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they did not act in self-defense. And based on the facts and circumstances as I see them, I just cannot simply do that."

Johnson's Mother Vows to Continue Fight

Da'Quain Johnson's mother, Angelica Johnson, appeared at the press conference and criticized the prosecutor's decision. "I'm not mad, because he's just the beginning. He doesn't have the final say. It doesn't stop with Chris Becker," she said. "Chris Becker is a joke. There's levels to this, and I will continue to fight and say my son's name and be a part of this big movement of injustice that we as people are suffering at the hands of the police."

Angelica Johnson said she will contact the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel as the next step.

Attorney's Statement on Independent Investigation

Attorneys Ben Crump and Ven Johnson, who represent the Johnson family, issued a statement after Becker's announcement. "We are continuing our own independent investigation into this shooting and will work to ensure the full truth comes to light," they said. "The Johnson family deserves answers — and we intend to help them get those answers."

Background on the Shooting

Johnson had been riding his bike on Eastern Avenue SE on Feb. 18 when police received reports of a man on a bike with a gun. Officers chased Johnson on his bike for about 90 seconds, then continued the pursuit on foot in the parking lot of the Eastern Lofts Apartment complex.

In body camera footage released by GRPD, Johnson gets off his bike and appears to fall. The officers deploy a K9 which begins biting Johnson. "Stop reaching, man. You're going to get shot," one of the officers is heard saying in one of the body-cam videos.

GRPD said Johnson reached for a gun. That's when the officer fired multiple shots. Johnson was taken to a hospital, where he died during surgery.

13 ON YOUR SIDE later obtained his death certificate, which lists a gunshot wound to the back as his cause of death.

Prosecutor's Findings

MSP took over the investigation. Investigators claim video evidence shows Johnson was prone while the police K9 was latched onto his upper arm. They were concerned about the firearm they said was near his right side.

Investigators noted that Johnson's right arm was initially difficult to see, but his movements drew attention. They wrote that his right elbow appeared to "flare outward," which they said is consistent with someone pulling an object from their waistband area. MSP said the handgun fell near Johnson's right hip during the struggle and later recovered a tan two-tone Taurus 9mm handgun with 8 rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber.

Officer's History

This is the second time that Officer Carlson has been cleared of charges following a fatal officer-involved shooting. He was one of three officers that shot and killed Henry Wyver in November 2024 after Wyver would not respond to commands by GRPD officers to drop a gun. That gun later turned out to be a lighter that strongly resembled a handgun.

Becker said the lighter strongly resembling a gun was one of the reasons he opted not to file any charges against the three officers — which included Officer Carlson — involved in the shooting. GRPD believes that the incident involving Wyver was "suicide by cop," after retrieving a last will and testament on Wyver following his death.

Becker said that Wyver was released from the hospital the same day he was shot. Officers found a note written in crayon on Wyver, saying in part, "GRPD, thank you for caring."

Officer Carlson joined GRPD in 2019 as part of one of the department's cadet classes of that year. He was placed on administrative leave after both shootings, per GRPD policy.

Community Reaction

Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack told 13 ON YOUR SIDE of the decision ahead of the press conference after he learned that Becker called Johnson's mother, Angelica Johnson, and told her of his decision.

The shooting has spurred community pushback, with protestors taking to the streets the day after and hundreds attending a rally on March 1.

City Response

Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington said he has been reviewing the data on officer-involved shootings over the past five years. He wants to look at the department's pursuit and K-9 policies, as well as the civilian appeals board.

"I understand this news evokes strong emotions, especially for those that have been directly impacted by this incident. There are some in the community who are grieving Mr. Johnson's death and the investigative outcome. However, my work — and the City's internal work — is not finished," Washington said following Becker's decision.

He said he has directed GRPD and the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability (OPA) to move forward with their own administrative reviews to ensure all department policies were upheld.

"As Interim Chief, I want to be clear that my priorities are the safety of this community and the integrity of the Grand Rapids Police Department," Interim Chief of Police Joe Trigg said. "While this decision concludes the independent criminal investigation by the Michigan State Police, we remain mindful that a family is mourning and our community is still processing a very difficult event."

Trigg said now that Becker's decision has been announced, the focus shifts to the family's next steps and ensuring proper administrative reviews occur within the department.

What Comes Next

The Johnson family's appeal to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office represents the next level in the criminal investigation. The Attorney General's office has the authority to review and potentially take over cases that involve significant civil rights concerns.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office can be reached at their contact directory through the state government website.

The case has drawn attention from civil rights organizations and has been followed closely by the Grand Rapids community.