Nationwide — Da’Quain Johnson, an African American man from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was shot and killed by police while a police dog attacked him. Witnesses say his hands were behind his back, and his family is demanding justice and accountability.
Johnson, 32, was riding his bicycle on February 18 when police pursued him, suspecting he was armed. The chase ended in an apartment parking lot, where he slipped on some ice. A police dog attacked him, and seconds later, officers opened fire.
According to Atlanta Black Star, neighbors who witnessed the shooting said Johnson never pulled a gun while on the ground. One recorded the scene, hearing officers shout, “Stop moving, you’re going to get shot!” and “Drop the gun!” as Johnson lay facedown with the dog on him. His hands were reportedly behind his back, and the gun was never visible in the video.
Johnson’s mother, Angelica Johnson, called the killing an execution, comparing it to the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. “They executed my baby. They held his hands behind his back,” she said in a viral Instagram video. The family has hired attorney Lee Merritt to demand accountability and transparency.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom said Johnson was shot in the chest, not the head, and described the family’s claims as “falsehoods.” He confirmed a gun was found on Johnson and noted that he was on parole for weapons violations, arguing the shooting was legally justified.
Community members and activists have criticized police accounts as misleading. Protests followed the release of video footage, with neighbors calling for answers. Merritt said Johnson’s family wants full accountability and justice for a man they say was a son, neighbor, and valued member of the community, not a threat.
Johnson’s mother vowed to continue fighting for his son. “The evidence is there,” she said. “Y’all couldn’t see it, but you will soon enough. But my son was shot in the back of the head. He was mauled in the neck by a dog. And the way he was shot… you could tell that his hands were being held behind his back.”