Grand Rapids, MI — The murder case involving former Michigan State Police sergeant Brian Keely, who is accused of hitting and killing Samuel Sterling with his police cruiser, will no longer proceed to trial on April 21 as originally scheduled. A Tuesday order from federal Judge Hala Jarbou announced that both the final pretrial conference, set for March 19, and the jury trial, set for April 21, have been canceled without a rescheduled date.
Instead, an evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for April 21 in Lansing, marking a shift in the case’s proceedings. Keely, 44, is facing charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the April 2024 death of 25-year-old Samuel Sterling of Grand Rapids.
Sterling’s death occurred after a police pursuit following an attempt to arrest him on multiple warrants. On April 17, 2024, authorities tracked Sterling to a Kentwood gas station. When officers attempted to apprehend him, Sterling fled on foot, leading to a chase that ended at a nearby Burger King. Keely, who was driving an unmarked police SUV as part of a U.S. Marshals task force, pursued Sterling in his vehicle. Video footage released by Michigan State Police shows Sterling being struck by Keely’s SUV near the restaurant’s entrance. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
In August 2024, Judge Jarbou ruled that the case should fall under federal jurisdiction due to Keely’s involvement in a U.S. Marshals task force at the time of the incident. This decision transferred the case from state courts to federal court, a significant development that has altered the course of the legal proceedings.
A status conference in the case took place on Monday, followed by Tuesday’s order from Judge Jarbou. The judge denied two motions from state prosecutors: one seeking to admit autopsy photos of Sterling as evidence and another requesting that Sterling’s criminal history, including information about his outstanding warrants, not be included in the case. Judge Jarbou ruled that details of Sterling’s past character were irrelevant and constituted impermissible character evidence. However, the motions were denied “without prejudice,” meaning prosecutors can refile them at a later date if they wish.
The case continues to attract attention, especially given the video footage and the serious charges facing Keely. As the case now moves toward an evidentiary hearing in April, all eyes will remain on the federal court’s handling of the matter and what developments may arise in the coming months.
