Dispatch Audio Captures East Lansing Officer-Involved Shooting

Michigan State Police investigating deadly incident at Biggby Coffee

Apr. 18, 2026 at 1:57am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single knife blade against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually illustrating the weapon used in a violent crime that led to an officer-involved shooting.A stark, gritty close-up of the weapon used in a violent crime exposes the harsh realities of officer-involved shootings.East Lansing Today

East Lansing police responded to reports of a theft and a stabbing at a local Biggby Coffee, leading to an officer-involved shooting that left the suspect dead. Dispatch audio captured the emergency response as the situation escalated, with officers shooting the suspect after they charged at officers and ignored commands to drop their weapon.

Why it matters

Officer-involved shootings are a sensitive and controversial issue, raising questions about use of force, de-escalation tactics, and police accountability. This incident will likely prompt further investigation and scrutiny of the officers' actions and the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.

The details

According to the dispatch audio, East Lansing police were originally called to the intersection for a report of a theft. While en route, they received another call reporting a stabbing at the Biggby Coffee at the same intersection. Officers located a suspect at the scene with a knife, and shot them after they charged officers and ignored commands to drop the weapon. The stabbing victim was identified as Douglas Mielock, an attorney at the local law firm Foster Swift.

  • Officers were originally dispatched at 6:06 p.m. on Wednesday for a reported theft.
  • While en route, police received another call reporting a stabbing at the Biggby Coffee.

The players

East Lansing Police

The local law enforcement agency that responded to the initial theft report and the subsequent stabbing, leading to the officer-involved shooting.

Michigan State Police

The state law enforcement agency that is investigating the officer-involved shooting, a standard procedure in such incidents.

Douglas Mielock

An attorney at the local law firm Foster Swift who was the victim of the stabbing at the Biggby Coffee.

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What they’re saying

“Medic 12, Battalion 11, Medic 12, Battalion 11, on stage for a stabbing. Abbot and Lake Lansing. Abbot and Lake Lansing. Still gathering further. Getting an indication that there's a male stabbed at the Biggby Coffee at the corner of Abbot and Lake Lansing.”

— Dispatcher

“Priority backup to Meridian. We've got shots fired at the corner of Abbot and Lake Lansing. Police are somehow involved.”

— Dispatcher

What’s next

The Michigan State Police investigation into the officer-involved shooting can take anywhere from one week to several months to complete. The findings of the investigation will likely determine if the officers' use of force was justified.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the complex and often volatile nature of police encounters, where split-second decisions can have deadly consequences. It underscores the need for continued scrutiny and improvement of police training, tactics, and accountability measures to ensure the safety of both officers and the public.