GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced Thursday, April 2, 2026, that no criminal charges will be filed against Grand Rapids Police Department Officer Christopher Carlson for the February 18 fatal shooting of 32-year-old Da'Quain Johnson.

In a press conference following the announcement, Becker stated he could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Carlson did not act in self-defense or defense of others.

"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."

Carlson joined the GRPD in 2019 and was also involved in another fatal officer-involved shooting in November 2024 near Trinity Health Hospital. In that incident, a suspect was shot and killed after reportedly carrying a lighter that resembled a handgun and refusing to follow police orders. The department determined it was likely a "suicide by cop" situation, and Becker also declined to pursue charges in that case.

What Happened on Eastern Avenue

According to reports, Johnson was riding his bike on Eastern Avenue SE when police received reports of a man on a bike with a gun. Officers chased Johnson on his bike for approximately 90 seconds before continuing the pursuit on foot in the parking lot of the Eastern Lofts Apartment complex.

In body camera footage released by the GRPD, Johnson appears to fall off his bike before officers deploy a K9 unit that begins biting Johnson. Officers can be heard saying, "Stop reaching, man. You're going to get shot," during the incident.

The GRPD stated Johnson reached for a gun, which led the officer to fire multiple shots. Johnson was taken to a hospital where he died during surgery. His death certificate lists a gunshot wound to the back as the cause of death.

The officer who fired was placed on administrative leave, and the Michigan State Police took over the investigation.

The Investigation Findings

13 ON YOUR SIDE obtained the Michigan State Police report through a Freedom of Information Act request. Investigators noted that video evidence showed Johnson was prone while the police K9 was latched onto his upper arm.

MSP investigators wrote that Johnson's right elbow appeared to "flare outward," which they said is consistent with someone pulling an object from their waistband area. The handgun fell near Johnson's right hip during the struggle.

Officers later recovered a tan two-tone Taurus 9mm handgun with eight rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber.

Community Reaction

The decision has sparked significant community pushback. Days after the announcement, protesters took to the streets, with hundreds attending a rally on March 1. Johnson's mother, Angelica Johnson, appeared at both the rally and a City Commission meeting.

"I will get justice," Angelica Johnson said during the rally. "I will get justice. I won't sit back."

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Ven Johnson, who represent Johnson's family, have called his death an "assassination" and have refuted the GRPD's narrative of what occurred.

In response to the prosecutor's decision, a community caravan was held on April 5, 2026, to protest police use of force incidents. The caravan began at Modern Hardware and made stops at sites where Johnson and 26-year-old Patrick Lyoya were killed by police officers.

Lyoya was shot and killed by a GRPD officer in 2022 on the city's southeast side.

Johnson's mother expressed frustration at the lack of presence from local leaders during the caravan. "The NAACP is supposed to be here. They the ones supposed to lead this...not me," she said. "We're not talking about Rob. A lot of these leaders show up when our kids are killed and they get on the news and they rub our backs and they say 'we're in this fight with you' and they're nowhere to be found."

Response From City Officials

Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, who learned of the decision after Becker called Johnson's mother, said he is getting a second autopsy done for Da'Quain Johnson in an effort to have the decision reviewed again by the attorney general.

Grand Rapids City Manager Mark Washington stated 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," Washington said following Becker's decision. "However, my work – and the City's internal work – is not finished."

Washington directed the GRPD and the Office of Oversight and Public Accountability to move forward with their own administrative reviews to ensure all department policies were upheld.

Interim Chief of Police Joe Trigg acknowledged that while the independent criminal investigation has concluded, the family and community are still in mourning.

"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.

The announcement concludes the independent criminal investigation, but civil and administrative processes may continue separately.