Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker announced during a press conference earlier this month, April 2, that no charges will be pressed against Christopher Carlson, the officer that fatally shot Da’Quain Johnson in February.
Both the shooting and the decision not to press charges have caused significant community response, including among students at Grand Valley State University.
The Johnson case hinged on the fourth element of second-degree murder, and whether the action was justified due to self defense or defense of others. Becker said the Prosecutor’s Office didn’t have sufficient evidence that Carlson did not act in self defense.
“I have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Officer Carlson did not act in self defense, and based on the facts and circumstances as I see them, I cannot simply do that,” Becker said.
Carlson was involved in another fatal shooting in November 2024, in which a man was brandishing a lighter resembling a handgun and advancing toward officers, with the intent of committing “suicide by cop.” Becker also decided not to pursue charges in that incident.
In the Johnson case, Becker synced footage from multiple angles with audio from officers’ body cameras, as well as removing sirens in order to fully analyze the incident. Johnson was carrying a loaded firearm at the time of the shooting.
“In the police community, when somebody is reaching for something, it could be a gun, a cellphone (or) nothing, but that 45-degree angle gives the officer concern,” Becker said.
Phone camera footage provides the best vantage point of a gun in Johnson’s right hand during the struggle with officers on the ground. A loaded tan Taurus 9mm handgun was recovered from the scene. Following the shooting, Carlson could be heard saying Johnson’s gun was pointed in his face.
Becker further argued that Johnson never said anything to indicate he was surrendering, and that things might have gone differently had he said so. Becker went on to state there were not many options that would not have put officers’ lives in danger.
“Is it reasonable to fire at somebody who is pointing a gun in your face?” Becker asked. “I don’t know how we argue that it’s not.”
Some GVSU students agreed the officer’s actions were justified as self defense.
“A shooting is always unfortunate but the suspect was carrying a firearm, that is grounds for protecting yourself because you can never know someone’s next move,” said senior Adara DeWolf.
Other GVSU students do not feel Carlson’s actions were justified under self-defense arguments. Senior Jada Dobbins expected the decision based on Becker’s previous declarations, including a mistrial last year following the fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya in 2022.
“It’s upsetting but not surprising that Becker has chosen not to prosecute the officer who murdered Da’Quain Johnson,” Dobbins said. “It seems the law is more preoccupied in protecting business per usual and providing impunity to officers rather than protecting the lives it claims to serve.”
Ven Johnson and Ben Crump, the attorneys hired by Johnson’s family, intend to continue their own investigation into the incident in order to challenge the narrative constructed by Becker and the GRPD.
