Police said the man threw a Molotov cocktail, tried to carjack a driver and stabbed a K-9 before officers opened fire.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A Grand Rapids police officer shot and killed a man Saturday afternoon after police said he charged officers with a knife following a domestic call on Alpine Avenue NW.
The shooting ended a fast-moving police response that began just after 1:15 p.m. May 30 with a report of a man armed with a knife and threatening family members. The Grand Rapids Police Department said the encounter moved from a home to the street, where officers reported a fire attack, an attempted carjacking, a foot chase and the stabbing of a police dog before gunfire.
Police said officers went to Alpine Avenue NW after receiving the domestic call. When they arrived, the man threw a lit Molotov cocktail at officers, and the device ignited on a police cruiser, according to the department. Officers tried to negotiate with him, but he left the residence and ran, police said. During the chase, police said, he tried to carjack a person at knife point but did not get the vehicle. He then tried to enter another home before officers used a police K-9 to stop him.
The department said the man stabbed the K-9 multiple times. Police said officers then tried a “less lethal” option, but the man “did not comply” and charged officers while still armed with the knife. One officer fired, striking the man several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not immediately release the man’s name, age or city of residence. The officer’s name also was not immediately released.
The wounded K-9 suffered a deep cut and received stitches, police said. The department said the dog survived and was expected to return home. No officers or other civilians were reported injured in the incident. Police did not immediately say how many officers were on scene, how many less-lethal attempts were made or whether body-camera video would be released. The condition of the police cruiser after the fire was not fully detailed Saturday.
Michigan State Police took over the investigation, which is standard in officer-involved shootings involving Grand Rapids police. The officer who fired the shots was placed on administrative leave while the outside investigation continues, police said. Investigators are expected to review body-camera video, police radio traffic, physical evidence from the scene, witness statements and any nearby surveillance video from homes or businesses along the route.
The shooting came after several high-profile police use-of-force cases in Grand Rapids in recent years, including cases involving police dogs and foot pursuits. Saturday’s incident added another review involving GRPD tactics, K-9 deployment and officer decision-making during a rapidly changing armed confrontation. Police have described the case as beginning with threats inside a family setting, then shifting into a public safety emergency as the man moved outside with a knife.
Investigators had not announced any final findings by Sunday. Key questions remained, including what led to the domestic call, how long officers negotiated with the man, what less-lethal tool was used, how close the man was to officers when shots were fired and whether the attempted carjacking victim or nearby residents gave formal statements. State police will review the shooting before findings are forwarded for any further legal review.
The area near Alpine Avenue NW drew a heavy police response after the shooting, with officers securing the scene and collecting evidence. Images from local news coverage showed police vehicles near the intersection area and investigators working around the neighborhood. The incident also drew public attention because of the injured K-9, the reported fire attack on a cruiser and the fatal outcome within minutes of the first call.
The investigation remained active Sunday, May 31. Grand Rapids police said the officer is on administrative leave, the K-9 is recovering and Michigan State Police are handling the review.
Author note: Last updated May 31, 2026.