By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- • Grand Rapids, Michigan, Interim Police Chief Joe Trigg released approximately seven minutes of body-worn and in-car camera footage on June 3, 2026, documenting the May 30 officer-involved shooting that killed 46-year-old Eddie Deans Jr.
- • The incident began when Deans’ mother called 911 to report that he had threatened a family member with a knife at their home on Alpine Avenue NW; upon the first officer’s arrival, Deans threw a lit Molotov cocktail at the patrol vehicle.
- • Deans fled on foot, attempted a carjacking at knifepoint, and was later subdued by K-9 Digo — stabbing the dog in the head and striking the dog’s protective vest before officers deployed less-lethal weapons, which were not effective.
- • Officers surrounded Deans in a backyard on Widdicomb Avenue NW, where he lunged toward officers; one officer fired four to five shots, killing him.
- • The Grand Rapids Police Department has not made any determination on whether the officer’s actions were consistent with department policy, law, or training; Michigan State Police is currently conducting the investigation.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Grand Rapids Police Interim Chief Joe Trigg released body-worn and in-car camera footage on June 3, 2026, documenting a violent confrontation on May 30 that ended with the fatal shooting of Eddie Deans Jr., 46, after he threw a lit Molotov cocktail at a patrol vehicle, attempted a carjacking, and stabbed a police K-9 during a foot pursuit through a southeast-side neighborhood.
The incident began at approximately 1:15 p.m. on May 30 when Deans’ mother contacted 911 to report that he had threatened a family member with a knife at their home on Alpine Avenue NW. Dashcam footage released Wednesday shows that upon the first officer’s arrival, Deans exited the residence, sprayed a patrol vehicle with lighter fluid, and threw a lit Molotov cocktail at the cruiser. He then fled on foot through the neighborhood, approaching a motorist and attempting to carjack the vehicle at knifepoint; footage shows a woman screaming and fleeing from the vehicle.
Officers tracked Deans to a backyard in the area of Widdicomb Avenue NW near 12th Street. K-9 Digo was deployed to subdue him. Deans stabbed the dog in the head and struck the dog’s protective vest during the encounter. Officers subsequently deployed less-lethal devices, which were not effective. Bodycam footage shows Deans crouching near a staircase before lunging toward officers; one officer fired four to five rounds, striking and killing Deans. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Trigg stated that the department has not reached any conclusions regarding whether the officer’s conduct was consistent with applicable law, department policy, or training. Michigan State Police is conducting the investigation into the shooting. Deans had a documented history of mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, anti-social personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder, according to Kent County Probate Court records. He was paroled from prison in February 2025 after serving time for a second-degree murder conviction stemming from a 1995 homicide committed when he was 16 years old.
K-9 Digo was treated at an animal emergency hospital following the stabbing and has since been released. The dog is recovering at home with his handler. No officers sustained injuries during the incident.