Prosecutor Says Officer Justified After Reviewing Video Evidence

KENT COUNTY — Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced Thursday that the Grand Rapids police officer who fatally shot Da'Quain Johnson on February 18 will not face criminal charges.

"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 during a press conference. "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."

The announcement comes six weeks after Johnson, 32, died from gunshot wounds sustained during an incident in the parking lot of Eastern Lofts apartment complex near Martin Luther King Jr. Street and Eastern Avenue SE.

What Happened That Night

According to Grand Rapids Police Department dash camera video released earlier in the investigation, Johnson was riding his bicycle when officers received reports of an armed suspect. Police pursued Johnson on his bike for approximately 90 seconds before the pursuit continued on foot in the parking lot.

Johnson fell to the ground after dismounting from his bicycle. A K-9 officer was deployed and appeared to bite Johnson on the arm before two officers moved in to handcuff him.

"Stop reaching, man. You're going to get shot," one officer is heard saying in body camera video.

According to the prosecutor, video showed Johnson reached for a gun and had it in his hand before he was shot. One officer stated he saw the barrel of Johnson's gun pointed at his face immediately after the shooting.

Carlson, who shot Johnson twice in the back, was placed on administrative leave following the incident. The Michigan State Police took over the investigation and turned their findings to Becker's office on March 3.

A Pattern of Controversy

This is not the first time Carlson has been involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting. Becker also decided not to pursue charges in November 2024 when Carlson was involved in an incident outside Trinity Health Grand Rapids hospital.

In that case, a man who allegedly told officers to "shoot me" pointed what appeared to be a gun at officers. The gun turned out to be a lighter. The Grand Rapids Police Department determined the incident was likely "suicide by cop."

Becker cleared all officers involved in that shooting as well.

Community Reaction

The decision has sparked strong reactions from Johnson's family and community members. Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Ven Johnson, who represent Johnson's family, have called his death an "assassination" and disputed the police narrative of what occurred.

Johnson's mother, Angelica Johnson, has been vocal in her pursuit of accountability. During a virtual press conference with her attorneys on March 20, she said:

"I will not let his legacy be remembered in a negative way. He will not be defined by past mistakes or what assumptions people want to make about things they have not facts about."

Rallies and protests occurred in the days following the shooting, with hundreds of community members attending events on March 1. Johnson's mother appeared at both the rallies and a City Commission meeting.

City Response

Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington said he has been reviewing data on officer-involved shootings over the past five years. He wants to examine 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.

Washington has directed the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability to move forward with administrative reviews to ensure all department policies were upheld.

Interim Chief of Police Joe Trigg acknowledged the family and community are still mourning while stating that the Michigan State Police investigation has concluded.

What We Know

• Johnson was 32 years old
• The shooting occurred on February 18, 2026, around 9:30 p.m.
• Johnson died early the next morning while undergoing surgery
• The death certificate lists a gunshot wound to the back as the cause of death
• A tan two-tone Taurus 9mm handgun was recovered from near Johnson's body
• The gun had eight rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber
• Police found a plastic bag containing approximately 10 grams of suspected crack cocaine on Johnson's body during life-saving measures

Next Steps

Johnson's family is pursuing a civil case against the city. The prosecutor said he called Johnson's mother to deliver his decision on the criminal charges.

Becker expressed the difficulty of the situation, noting:

"It's difficult to lose a loved one under any circumstances, but then you have these circumstances where it's out on video for pretty much the whole public to see."

The prosecutor emphasized that his decision was based on what can be proven in court rather than how the incident appears on video.

Sources:

• mlive.com — https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2026/04/grand-rapids-police-cleared-in-daquain-johnson-fatal-shooting.html
• wzzm13.com — https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/local/daquain-johnson-grand-rapids-police-fatal-shooting-charging-decision/69-cdbc298b-ee6e-41e1-a248-5da98d8a2038
• fox17online.com — https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/grand-rapids/kent-county-prosecutor-set-to-make-announcement-on-deadly-officer-involved-shooting-from-february-18
• fightbacknews.org — https://fightbacknews.org/articles/grand-rapids-condemn-kent-county-prosecutor-for-not-charging-two-officers