*Be Advised: The footage released by police is hyperlinked within the article and contains graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised.*
The East Lansing Police Department has made public body camera, fleet camera, and witness footage of a police shooting that resulted in the death of Isaiah Kirby, a native of Owings Mills.
Authorities were dispatched to a business located at the intersection of Lake Lansing and Abbot Roads after reports of a theft that escalated into a stabbing incident.
Isaiah Kirby, who was pursuing a degree in zoology at Michigan State University, was identified as a suspect in the stabbing that took place in the vicinity.
<div class="Figure-container">
<img src="https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/dbc180f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2100x1500+0+0/resize/1280x914!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4f%2F67%2F78a0bc7143a4945373dd1c17f05a%2Fisaiah-kirby.jpg" alt="Isaiah Kirby.jpg" width="1280" height="914"/><p>Kirby Family </p></div>Fortunately, the stabbing victim survived the ordeal and was discharged from the hospital to continue recovery at home.
RELATED: ‘We demand justice’: Mother of Owings Mills man shot and killed by police in Michigan speaks out
In a recording taken by a customer inside the business, Kirby appeared to walk toward a car, taking something from it before meandering through the parking lot with what looked like a knife in his hand.
A nearby patron called for assistance by stating, “Call 911.”
Another customer queried about the situation, prompting an employee to respond, “I don’t know; that is my customer. I just finished attending to him.”
After being asked about their well-being, the employee replied: “Yes, I feel bad for Doug.”
For two minutes, the footage showed Kirby moving around the parking lot, holding an object resembling a knife, before he fled the scene.
As one patron remained on the phone with emergency services, the video also captured the stabbing victim lying on the ground and bleeding significantly, with bystanders attempting to assist.
The bodycam footage from an officer revealed the patrol car arriving at the scene around the two-minute mark.
Officers received a description of Kirby and later located him on Abbot Road, where one officer commented, “He’s running right toward me.”
The video showed the officers exiting their vehicle as Kirby approached, still holding the object.
The footage documented the officers ordering Kirby to get on the ground twice as he charged toward them, followed by the sound of multiple gunshots.
Kirby collapsed after being struck several times, crying out in pain as the shots were fired.
“Don’t move, don’t move, don’t move; show me your hands,” commanded one officer following the shots.
Subsequently, Kirby was observed on his knees, holding the knife but not aiming it at the officers. Yet the officers discharged their weapons once more.
After demanding that Kirby drop the knife, an officer could be heard stating, “I’m going less lethal, I’m going less lethal,” as he drew his Taser.
As Kirby attempted to crawl away, the police fired again, compelling him to collapse completely. An officer yelled, “Drop the f****** knife.”
One officer approached Kirby, Tasor in hand, instructing him, “Don’t move, man; we’re gonna help you, alright? I need you to put the knife down.”
“Toss the knife so we can assist you; toss the knife,” repeatedly urged the officer.
Two officers left the scene of the shooting to rush to the stabbing victim, who was found seated on the ground, bleeding from wounds that appeared to be to his head and leg.
After no longer seeing any movement from Kirby, one officer retrieved a shield from the trunk of a patrol car, placing it over Kirby’s hands to secure the knife while other officers worked to cut away his clothes and provide first aid as they awaited medical support.
First responders could be heard saying, “I don’t feel a pulse.” Just moments later, medics declared they were going to “call it.”
The officers involved in the incident were identified as follows:
• Field Training Officer Beck Martin, three years with the department
• Officer Brennan Surman, two years of service
• Officer Benjamin Saylor, one year of service
• Officer Zane Johnson Chasteen, serving for three months (paired with Officer Martin)
On Friday, Kirby’s family reviewed the footage, with their attorney, Teresa A. Caine Bingman, stating that Kirby was met with “an immediate and overwhelming use of deadly force.”
Bingman further noted that the officers did not explore non-lethal alternatives and “immediately fired over 20 rounds.”
“The videos also illustrate officers continuing to shoot after Isaiah had collapsed and seemed to have already sustained fatal injuries from the initial gunfire, indicating that this use of deadly force was neither reasonable nor legally justified,” Bingman declared.
Karyn Kirby, Isaiah’s mother, initially counted 17 wounds on her son’s body upon viewing it, some inflicted on his back.
However, after reviewing the footage, Bingman stated they suspect there were more than 17 gunshot wounds, a detail that will be confirmed once the autopsy results are made available.
“Nothing observed in these recordings warranted this excessive level of force, which was neither necessary nor justified given the circumstances. The family is dedicated to seeking truth, accountability, and justice for Isaiah Kirby,” Bingman concluded.
The East Lansing Police Department has pledged to maintain transparency and will collaborate fully with the Michigan State Police’s ongoing investigation into the shooting.
“After the Michigan State Police completes its investigation, the East Lansing Police Department will conduct its own internal review. We will refrain from making further comments for now,” stated the department.
