No Charges for GRPD Officers in Fatal Shooting of Da'quain Johnson

Kent County Commissioner says Prosecutor will not file charges in February incident

Apr. 2, 2026 at 7:51pm

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An extreme close-up of a single bullet casing on a dark, textured surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigation into a police shooting.The decision not to charge officers in the fatal shooting of Da'quain Johnson has reignited tensions over policing and accountability in Grand Rapids.Grand Rapids Today

Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker has decided not to file charges against the Grand Rapids police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Da'quain Johnson on February 18. The decision was announced by Kent County Commissioner Robert Womack, who said Becker informed Johnson's mother, Angelica Johnson, of the decision ahead of a press conference scheduled for Thursday, April 2.

Why it matters

The shooting of Da'quain Johnson sparked community outrage and protests, with calls for the release of all body camera footage and demands for justice. The decision not to charge the officers is likely to further inflame tensions between the community and the Grand Rapids Police Department.

The details

According to the investigation by Michigan State Police, officers received reports of a man on a bike with a gun and pursued Johnson for about 90 seconds before the chase continued on foot. Body camera footage shows Johnson getting off his bike and falling, at which point a police K9 began biting him. Investigators claim the video shows Johnson reaching for a gun, prompting an 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.

  • On February 18, police received reports of a man on a bike with a gun and pursued Da'quain Johnson.
  • On March 3, the Prosecutor's Office received the investigation and findings from Michigan State Police.
  • On April 2, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker is scheduled to hold a press conference to announce his charging decision.

The players

Da'quain Johnson

A 26-year-old man who was fatally shot by Grand Rapids police officers on February 18.

Angelica Johnson

The mother of Da'quain Johnson, who was informed by the Prosecutor of the decision not to file charges against the officers involved in her son's death.

Chris Becker

The Kent County Prosecutor who will announce his decision not to file charges against the officers involved in the shooting of Da'quain Johnson.

Robert Womack

A Kent County Commissioner who informed the public that Prosecutor Becker will not be filing charges against the officers involved in the shooting of Da'quain Johnson.

Ben Crump and Ven Johnson

Civil rights attorneys representing the Johnson family, who have called Da'quain Johnson's death an "assassination" and refuted the police's narrative of the incident.

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What they’re saying

“'I will get justice. I will get justice. I won't sit back.'”

— Angelica Johnson, Mother of Da'quain Johnson

“Da'quain Johnson's death was an "assassination" and the police's narrative of the incident is refuted.”

— Ben Crump and Ven Johnson, Civil rights attorneys representing the Johnson family

What’s next

The Prosecutor's press conference on April 2 will officially announce the decision not to file charges against the officers involved in the shooting of Da'quain Johnson. This is likely to further inflame tensions in the community and lead to renewed calls for justice and police accountability.

The takeaway

The decision not to charge the officers involved in the fatal shooting of Da'quain Johnson is expected to deepen the divide between the Grand Rapids community and the police department, underscoring the ongoing challenges in addressing issues of racial justice and police use of force.