Statement from Attorney Teresa A. Caine Bingman following latest video release from April 15 emergency

Courtesy Photo: Teresa A. Caine-Bingman, Esq., civil rights attorney and advocate for the family of Isaiah Kirby.

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After reviewing multiple complete, unedited body camera footage, dash camera footage, and eyewitness videos, it is clear that Isaiah Kirby was met with an immediate and overwhelming use of deadly force. Within moments of arriving on the scene, East Lansing police officers did not use non lethal options and immediately fired more than 20 rounds. 

The videos also show officers continuing to shoot after Isaiah had fallen to the ground and appeared to have been dead from the initial gunshot wounds, which was the use of deadly force that was neither reasonable nor legally justified. 

The raw video is consistent with what Isaiah’s mother, Karyn Kirby, observed when she viewed her son’s body and reported seeing 17 gunshot wounds to his body, including gunshot wounds to his back. After seeing the videos, we now believe that there were more than 17 gunshot wounds that will be revealed once autopsy results are released. Nothing we have seen justified this extraordinary level of force that was neither necessary nor warranted under the circumstances. 

The family remains committed to pursuing the truth, accountability, and justice for Isaiah Kirby.