Why It Matters
A disputed firearms evidence discrepancy at the center of a fatal police shooting case in Michigan is drawing renewed scrutiny to how Grand Rapids law enforcement and state investigators document and handle physical evidence in officer-involved shootings. The case of Da’Quain Johnson, shot and killed by a Grand Rapids police officer in February, has legal and civil rights implications that extend well beyond one family’s grief.
With prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump involved and a lawsuit appearing increasingly likely, the outcome of this investigation could influence how Michigan handles evidence protocols and transparency in future officer-involved shooting cases.
What Happened
Da’Quain Johnson was fatally shot by a Grand Rapids police officer in February 2026. Following the shooting, the Michigan State Police were assigned to investigate the incident, which is standard practice in officer-involved shooting cases in Michigan.
Attorneys Ben Crump and Ven Johnson, representing Da’Quain Johnson’s family, obtained a redacted copy of the Michigan State Police investigative report through a Freedom of Information Act request. Upon review, the lawyers identified what they described as a significant inconsistency between two separate official documents related to a firearm recovered at the scene.
The original incident report filed by Michigan State Police Detective Sergeant Dillard Hayes describes a Taurus G2C 9mm pistol recovered from the southeast corner of the parking lot. According to that report, the weapon was loaded with eight rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber at the time it was recovered.
However, a separate lab report from the Grand Rapids Forensic Laboratory describes the same firearm as having arrived with an empty magazine. The two official documents, both part of the same investigation, offer conflicting accounts of the state of the weapon when it entered the evidentiary chain.
When asked about the discrepancy, Michigan State Police Sixth District Public Information Officer Spl/Lt. Pat Agema told the Michigan Advance that it is standard procedure to unload firearms and store ammunition separately during an investigation. “In officer-involved shootings, a team of detectives is assigned to thoroughly investigate the scene,” Agema stated.
The family’s attorneys disputed that explanation. Ven Johnson said it would not be standard procedure to empty a magazine before transporting a firearm to a forensic laboratory for analysis, arguing that doing so could compromise the evidentiary integrity of the weapon.
By the Numbers
- 8 rounds listed as being in the magazine in the original Michigan State Police incident report
- 1 round described as chambered in the firearm at the time of recovery, according to the same incident report
- 0 rounds documented in the magazine upon arrival at the Grand Rapids Forensic Laboratory, per the lab report
- 2 attorneys — Ben Crump and Ven Johnson — are representing the Johnson family, with a civil lawsuit described as likely
- 1 FOIA request was required for the family’s legal team to obtain the redacted investigative documents
Zoom Out
The Johnson case reflects a broader national conversation about transparency and accountability in officer-involved shootings. Across the United States, advocacy groups and legal teams have increasingly relied on public records laws to obtain investigative documents when they believe official accounts are incomplete or inconsistent.
Ben Crump has represented families in several high-profile police shooting cases nationally, including the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. His involvement in the Johnson case signals the level of national attention this investigation may attract.
Michigan has faced recurring debates over how officer-involved shootings are investigated and whether independent oversight is sufficient. Grand Rapids, in particular, has been at the center of prior scrutiny following the 2022 fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya by a Grand Rapids police officer, a case that also drew national attention and resulted in a murder conviction.
Evidence handling discrepancies in criminal and civil cases have also emerged as a significant issue in courts nationwide, with chain-of-custody documentation increasingly examined in both criminal prosecutions and civil rights litigation.
What’s Next
Attorneys Crump and Ven Johnson indicated that a civil lawsuit against the City of Grand Rapids is likely. Johnson stated that forensic laboratory personnel would be among those deposed if the case moves forward.
The Michigan State Police investigation into the shooting remains ongoing. It is unclear whether any additional documents will be released or whether further FOIA requests are pending.
The Kent County Prosecutor’s Office has not yet announced a charging decision related to the officer involved in the shooting. Community advocates and the Johnson family are expected to continue pressing for full transparency in the release of investigative materials.