EAST LANSING — Police have delayed the release of video of an incident in which officers fatally shot a man they said was a suspect in a stabbing.
The East Lansing Police Department “had planned to release a narrated timeline of the stabbing event that led to an officer-involved shooting on April 15, 2026,” the department said in a statement Thursday evening. “However, after meeting with the family of the decedent and their attorney this afternoon, and in consultation with the Michigan State Police who are the lead investigating agency, ELPD will be reevaluating and preparing what video footage may be released at a future date.”
Isaiah Christopher Kirby, 21, from Owings, Maryland was shot and killed by East Lansing officers on April 15 near businesses at Lake Lansing and Abbot roads. Kirby was a student at Michigan State University, his family said.
East Lansing police described the incident as a stabbing that led to a fatal shooting by officers shortly after 6 p.m. While on the way to an initial call regarding a theft from a business, a 911 caller reported that a victim had been stabbed. When police arrived, they fatally shot the stabbing suspect, officials said.
MORE: Family of MSU student killed by police demands to see unedited video
Douglas Mielock, an attorney with the Foster Swift law firm, was stabbed during the incident, his law firm confirmed. While he was initially listed in critical condition at a Lansing area hospital, he was later released and was said to be recovering from his wounds.
East Lansing police said on April 20 they had started the process of reviewing and producing a video timeline of the events which they intended to share publicly “in the upcoming weeks.” They added that the names of the officers involved in the shooting would also be released at that time. Police have not said how many officers were involved.
Police confirmed that Mielock did not know Kirby.
East Lansing Police Chief Jennifer Brown said officers were on their way to a theft call when they learned of another call from a neighboring business involving a stabbing. When they arrived, they found a person covered in blood and holding an object believed to be a weapon, a knife, she added. Officers ordered the person to drop the knife, but they did not, she said, leading to the shooting.
Michigan State Police are investigating the shooting, which is standard practice for many Michigan police departments.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: East Lansing police delay release of video of shooting of MSU student
Reporting by Al Wilson, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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