A man in his 40s died Saturday afternoon after a violent confrontation with Grand Rapids Police that included a thrown Molotov cocktail, a failed carjacking attempt, and a police K9 that was stabbed multiple times.

The incident began around 1 p.m. on the 1000 block of Alpine Avenue NW, when officers responded to a call about a family member who was armed with a knife and threatening to harm relatives, according to GRPD Interim Chief Joe Trigg.

A police cruiser set on fire

When officers arrived at the home, the man threw a lit Molotov cocktail at a police cruiser, Trigg said. The vehicle caught fire, though crews extinguished the flames, according to police.

The man went back inside the house. Officers made multiple attempts to de-escalate the situation and used a less-lethal impact weapon, which did not work, Trigg said.

The man then emerged with a second Molotov cocktail. Police were also working to safely remove family members who were still inside the home during the standoff, Trigg said.

A chase through the neighborhood

The man fled the residence, prompting a chase through the northwest side neighborhood. During the pursuit, he approached a person in a vehicle and attempted to carjack them at knife point, according to police. The attempt was unsuccessful.

Officers deployed a K9 to try to stop the man. The dog engaged the suspect, who then stabbed the K9 at least three times, Trigg said. The K9 sustained a head injury but is expected to recover, according to the chief.

Police used the less-lethal impact weapon a second time, which also failed to stop the man, Trigg said.

Shots fired, man dies at scene

The chase ended in the backyard of a home on Widdicomb Avenue NW, where the man attempted to break into a residence, police said. He then charged officers with a knife.

One GRPD officer fired what Trigg believed was four to five shots, hitting the man multiple times. Officers attempted to render aid, but the man died at the scene.

GRPD has not identified the man. There were no other injuries reported in the incident, Trigg said.

What witnesses saw

Atlas Denzer was sitting on her porch on Widdicomb with a friend when the chase passed through her neighborhood.

"They were screaming, 'Get in your houses, there's a man with a knife,'" Denzer told WOOD TV 8. "So I'm turning around back to see. There's just people running through the yard, like running through yards, running through the streets."

Denzer said she saw the man sprint through an alley with SWAT officers in pursuit. She heard a dog yelping, followed by what she described as six gunshots.

Investigation underway

The officer who fired the shots has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard department policy, Trigg said. The Michigan State Police have taken over the investigation, as is protocol in any officer-involved shooting.

Trigg held a press conference Saturday afternoon to brief reporters on the details of the incident. He did not provide a name for the deceased man.

The investigation is expected to continue as MSP reviews body camera footage, witness statements, and the circumstances surrounding the use of force.