GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Police are not releasing video at this time of a man being shot by officers after allegedly charging at them with a knife.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, outside a house at Fourth Street NW and Broadway Avenue, police said.
Two officers fired gunshots at the man while two other officers deployed Tasers. The officers who fired their weapons have been placed on administrative leave which is standard protocol, police said.
The Grand Rapids Police Department announced Friday morning it will not release video of the shooting at this time, citing consideration of the family’s privacy concerns.
“My commitment has been to transparency in officer involved shootings since day one,” Chief Eric Winstrom said in a prepared statement.
“In this case, we must also take into account the privacy of the individual, who is expected to continue to recover from his injuries, and his family,” Winstrom said. “We must balance the community’s right to know with the family’s expressed desire, in the media and to MSP investigators, for privacy and healing. We are hopeful that this will contribute to this person getting the care he needs.”
The investigation by the Michigan State Police will continue and the findings will be turned over to the Kent County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
The man underwent surgery late Thursday, and is expected to recover, according to his brother.
The man’s brother, who asked that his name not be used, told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press he asked the man to leave the brother’s house because he was having a mental health crisis.
The man then grabbed a knife and ran out of the front door, his brother said.
The man suffered three gunshot wounds and was expected to recover, his brother said on the night of the incident.