Why Won't ELPD Release Name of Homicide Suspect?

Above: ELPD Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez in a file photo from ELi.

For the past week, we’ve been reporting on a homicide that occurred early on the morning of October 12. On Wednesday, we reported that the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) had issued a warrant for a suspect and that his name would be released to the public when he was arraigned.

Many ELi readers responded with questions about why ELPD would choose not to release the suspect’s name. Some readers expressed concern that the shooter was at large in our community and might endanger someone, and others wondered why the police would not seek the public’s help in locating the suspect.

We asked ELPD Deputy Chief Steve Gonzalez about the decision not to share the suspect’s name in this case.

He said that the questions from the public “make perfect sense,” but that “there are nuances to the case that are not public knowledge that have guided [ELPD’s] decision.”

Gonzalez added that the decision whether to release a suspect’s identity before arrest and/or arraignment are made on a case by case basis.

“In this specific instance,” he added “there are investigatory reasons why we have decided to withhold the suspect's identity for the time being.”

In short, in cases like this, the police do a calculation to figure out what is safest and most likely to bring justice. Telling us more about how they arrived at the calculation in this case would undermine the goals.

Have a question you’d like ELi to investigate? Contact us and let us know you have a question for the “Ask ELi” column!