GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A knife-wielding man who was shot by police underwent surgery late Thursday, Sept. 25, and is expected to fully recover, his brother said.
The shooting happened around 5:30 p.m. outside the brother’s house in the 600 block of Broadway Avenue NW at Fourth Street.
The neighborhood, bounded by the U.S. 131 and I-196 interchange, is a mix of houses, large apartment buildings and condominiums, and a handful of small businesses.
Many people were outside and witnessed the incident.
The brother, who asked that his name not be used, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that he asked his brother to leave because he was having a mental-health crisis. He said that his brother grabbed a knife and ran out of the front door.
Four officers were at the scene. Two of them used Tasers but the man got back up and, police said, charged the officers with the knife. Two officers fired their weapons at the man.
His brother said he suffered three gunshot wounds but was expected to recover.
Police Chief Eric Winstrom said that early information suggested the man would survive. He listened to radio traffic of the officers at the scene. Moments after police said that the man had a knife, police radioed, “’Shots fired, shots fired,’” the chief said.
He said dozens of people were outside, with large apartment buildings in the area. Police canvassed the area, looking for witnesses and ensuring no one was hit by a stray bullet.
He said police took possession of the four officers’ body-worn cameras. He hoped that the video would be available soon to the public.
“I don’t think it’s going to be a mystery what happened here tonight,” Winstrom said.
State police are investigating as an outside agency. Investigators expected to be at the scene overnight. The officers who discharged firearms were immediately placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard, while the investigation unfolds.