Kalamazoos homicide victims of 2020 remembered – mlive.com

KALAMAZOO, MI The year 2020 was one of the most violent on record in the city of Kalamazoo. It also saw the highest number of homicides this century countywide, matching the total in 2016.

There were more than 70 non-fatal shootings and 13 homicides due to gun violence within Kalamazoo city limits in 2020. Overall, there were 14 homicides in Kalamazoo: two in Portage, two in Kalamazoo Township, one in Oshtemo Township and one in Richland Township, bringing the countywide homicide count to 20.

In 2016, 11 of the 20 deaths occurred during two mass killings one in February when Uber driver Jason Dalton shot and killed six people and wounded two others, and one in June when Charles Pickett Jr. drove his truck into a group of cyclists on in Cooper Township, killing five and injuring four.

In 2020, a Dec. 29 double homicide in Kalamazoo Township was the only time there was more than one death in any of the fatal incidents.

In addition to the vast number of incidents, authorities have also had a tough time apprehending suspects. Of the 13 shooting deaths that occurred within the city limits, charges have only been authorized in four cases.

This year, with everything else going on, has just been the worst for people not cooperating with police, Kalamazoo Public Safety Capt. Craig Habel said. It seems like more so than other years.

I dont know if thats fear of retaliation due to the fact theres so many people that are carrying weapons these days who have a propensity to shoot. But were just not getting a lot of witness cooperation, and its really hurting our investigations.

The Group Violence Intervention team was also taken off the streets during the height of the COVID pandemic this summer, which Habel said didnt help matters.

Habel said most of the shootings in the city have been group-involved. Without assistance from community members who see or hear things, he said those shootings are bound to continue. Authorities will do whatever it takes to keep people as anonymous as possible if they come forward, the police captain said.

Its frustrating when you know there are people standing right there and no one will tell you what happened, Habel said. Its tough on these detectives too. They talk to the moms, dads, sisters, significant others weekly, and they want to solve it for the families more than anything.

They feel helpless sometimes.

The following are the victims of 2020 homicides in Kalamazoo County:

Victor Davis, 52, was shot and killed Jan. 9, 2020 outside the Fish Express restaurant on Riverview Drive in Kalamazoo's Eastside neighborhood. (Courtesy photo | Facebook)

Jan. 8: Victor Simon Davis, 52, was shot outside the Fish Express restaurant at 620 Riverview Drive in the citys Eastside neighborhood at around 8:45 p.m. The first homicide victim of 2020, Davis was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead after succumbing to his injuries.

Davis, according to friends, will be remembered as a family man who was always laughing and loved to help out around the community. He left behind a daughter, who friends said was the center of his universe.

She turned 6 the day he was killed, a coworker told MLive.

Kalamazoo Public Safety Assistant Chief David Boysen told MLive recently there are still no leads as to who shot and killed Davis.

Elijah Roberson, 30, seen here with his four children, was shot and killed March 8, 2020, in the parking lot of Canterbury Apartments in Oshtemo Township following an argument over a kids' football game. The suspect David Barnes, 45, is awaiting trial in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. (Courtesy photo | Pattrice Fuller)

March 8: Elijah Fuquan Roberson, 30, was shot and killed in the parking lot of Canterbury Apartments in Oshtemo Township following an argument over a kids football game.

The suspect David Barnes, 45, was arrested later that month. He has been charged with one count of open murder and is awaiting trial in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

Roberson was shot seven times, according to his autopsy report, including twice in the back, once in the rear and once in the back right side of his head. He also had multiple entry and exit wounds in his limbs, including a wound in the front of his left hand.

Barnes attorney, Kiana Garrity, asserts that her client shot Roberson in self defense and that Roberson, who was left-handed, had pulled a gun on her client and that is why he was shot first in the left hand.

Robersons fiance, Pattrice Fuller, testified the opposite at a July preliminary hearing in Kalamazoo County District Court, stating her fianc was unarmed when he was shot and killed. Fuller said Roberson had turned and was walking away from a verbal altercation with Barnes when he was shot multiple times from behind.

Fuller described Roberson to MLive as a big panda bear and a family man who was very involved with the couples four children. The two met in middle school, she said, bonding over their shared love for basketball. They started dating when they were 18.

She said she never dreamed shed have to go through something like this.

To see someone I love get their life taken from them over something so senseless, an argument over a football game. Thats all it was. I feel like Im dreaming every day, she said. He was my best friend.

Royalty Hooper-Houston, 2, died March 17, 2020 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, four days after police found her unresponsive at a Portage apartment. Her father's girlfriend Tranaya Spencer pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter and will be sentenced Jan. 4 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. (Courtesy photo)

March 17: Royalty Hooper-Houston, 2, died four days after first-responders found her unresponsive in a Portage apartment on Dove Court in Milham Meadows Apartments.

When police arrived, Tranaya Darnecia Spencer, 22, was attempting CPR. Officers took over and were able to successfully re-established the childs heartbeat before taking her to Bronson Methodist Hospital.

Spencer, who police said was the girlfriend of Royaltys father, was arrested in June at the conclusion of a three-month investigation. She pleaded guilty Dec. 10 to one count of manslaughter and one count of third-degree child abuse. She will be sentenced Jan. 4, 2021, in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court.

According to police reports filed with the court, Spencer told officers Royalty had peed her pants and Spencer swaddled the child as a form of punishment. After leaving the child asleep on the floor in a bedroom, Spencer returned a couple hours later to find her unresponsive, still swaddled and with the blanket now covering a portion of her face.

Spencer told police she tried to wake her in a cold shower and that while shaking her, she hit the childs head against the wall a couple times. She told police the childs head was whipping back and forth and she slammed her hard on the floor while on the phone with 911. Autopsy results showed Royalty died of a blunt force injury to the head and sequalae of multiple injuries, including asphyxia.

Carmen Hughes, 46, was shot and killed by her son Shaquwan Hughes, now 25, on March 27, 2020 in the city's Edison neighborhood. Shaquwan Hughes pleaded no contest to one count of discharging a firearm under the influence causing death and was sentenced Nov. 10 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court to serve six months in jail. (Courtesy photo | Facebook)

March 27: Carmen Hughes, 46, of Kalamazoo, was shot and killed by her son Shaquwan Hughes, now 25, who police determined had negligently fired a gun from the backseat of a vehicle they were both in at about 4:45 p.m. in the citys Edison neighborhood.

Shaquwan Hughes pleaded no contest in August to one count of discharging a firearm under the influence causing death and was sentenced Nov. 10 in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court to serve six months in jail.

This was an unfortunate accident that happened as the result of the careless handling of a weapon while under the influence of drugs, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting told MLive when Hughes was sentenced. This case is a reminder for all of us of the dangerousness of mixing guns and intoxicating substances and the deadly outcomes that can happen even though not intended.

Getting said in reviewing the case, there was no evidence that it was an intentional act, and the resolution in the case was reached after lengthy conversations with the victims family.

Hughes, according to her obituary, was a graduate of Plainwell High School. She was employed as a school bus driver in Kalamazoo and had been a certified nursing assistant for years.

Londrell Cook, 26, of Benton Harbor, was shot and killed in the 800 block of Woodbury Avenue at around 6:30 a.m. in the citys Northside neighborhood. Police arrested two suspects in the shooting, both who of have been charged federally on unrelated charges. (Courtesy photo | Facebook)

April 11: Londrell Cook, 26, of Benton Harbor, was shot and killed in the 800 block of Woodbury Avenue at around 6:30 a.m. in the citys Northside neighborhood. Two others were also injured in the incident.

After receiving information that retaliation was imminent, police arrested 12 people the following weekend nine from Benton Harbor and three from Kalamazoo that they believed were either preparing to retaliate or were involved directly in the killing of Cook.

Among those arrested from Kalamazoo included the two main suspects in Cooks killing. Neither has been charged in Cooks death to date, but both were being held in jail while awaiting trial on federal gun charges, Capt. Craig Habel told MLive in December.

Cook, according to his obituary, was known for his ability to make those around him smile and laugh. Known as Ball Harbor and Ruga, he was known to enjoy life to the fullest and had a love for his car, basketball and skating.

Cornelius Fredricks, 16, died May 1, 2020, two days after going into cardiac arrest following a lengthy restraint at the now-closed Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Three former employees of Lakeside are awaiting trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and second degree child abuse. (Courtesy photo | Tenia Goshay)

May 1: Cornelius Fredricks, 16, went into cardiac arrest April 29 after being restrained by multiple staff members at around 1 p.m. for throwing food at the now-closed Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo.

Fredricks died two days later at a nearby hospital due to complications from the restraint, which led to the teen receiving a lack of oxygen and blood flow, the Kalamazoo County Medical Examiners Office ruled.

A state investigation into the youth treatment facilitys handling of Fredricks death found that, from the top down, staff were in violation of proper de-escalation techniques and medical protocol. Video footage showed he was restrained by seven staff members for 12 minutes.

Three former Lakeside staff members Michael Mosley, Zachary Solis and Heather McLogan are awaiting trial in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court on charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree child abuse.

McLogan, the former head nurse at the now-closed facility, is accused of being present for the final 2 minutes of the restraint and then waiting 10 minutes before placing a call to 911 after the child was rendered unconscious. Solis and Mosley were both involved in the restraint.

Bystanders watch members of the Kalamazoo Metro SWAT team assemble outside a home on Princeton Avenue in the Northside neighborhood of Kalamazoo, Michigan on Thursday, May 14, 2020 shortly after Travontae Brown, 23, was shot and killed. (Kendall Warner | MLive.com)Kendall Warner | MLive.com

May 14: Travontae Brown, 23, of Kalamazoo was shot and killed at around 1:10 p.m. in the 1400 block of Princeton Avenue in the citys Northside neighborhood.

Habel described the incident as a large shootout, in which there were several people armed and shooting. A 28-year-old man was also shot during the incident, but survived.

Brown, who was lying on the ground suffering from an apparent gunshot wound when officers arrived, was among those with a gun in his possession, the police captain said. Lifesaving efforts were attempted on scene prior to Brown being transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Following the shooting, a lengthy standoff occurred outside a residence on Princeton Avenue. Officers called off the standoff after determining no one was inside the residence. More shooting occurred the next night in front of the same home on Princeton Avenue, which police said was probably related.

Brown, according to his obituary, was a father, a recording artist and an activist involved with both the NAACP and Northside Ministerial Alliance. He was enrolled at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where he was studying communications and business.

No one has been charged in the shooting and due to the number of firearms and people shooting, Habel said finding the right suspect is bleak with no witnesses talking. Police seized three guns at the scene and hope to be able to at least file some gun charges after DNA evidence comes back from the Michigan State Police.

McKenna Dutkiewicz, 21, of Wayland, was shot and killed by John Jacob Spangenberg June 1, 2020 in Spangenbergs apartment in the 1300 block of Jack Pine Way. Spangenberg, now 24, had been joking around with a gun he thought was unloaded when it went off. He was sentenced to one year in jail. (Courtesy photo | Cathy Dutkiewicz)

June 1: McKenna Dutkiewicz, 21, of Wayland, was shot and killed by John Jacob Spangenberg at about 10 p.m. in Spangenbergs apartment in the 1300 block of Jack Pine Way in the citys Arcadia neighborhood.

Spangenberg, now 24, called 911 after the shooting and told police he thought the gun was unloaded and he had been pointing it at her as the two joked around. Dutkiewicz, a 2017 graduate of Wayland Union High School and former student at Eastern Michigan University, was deceased when officers arrived.

Originally charged with open murder, Spangenberg pleaded guilty in November to a charge of involuntary manslaughter.

In accordance with the victims familys wishes, he was sentenced Dec. 14 by Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Gary Giguere to one year in jail and ordered to complete 500 hours of community service focused on speaking to youth and others as to the importance of mature, responsible and safe gun ownership.

If we dont forgive, we cannot move forward. McKenna would want us to move forward and she would also want us to forgive and were doing so one day at a time, the victims mother, Cathy Dutkiewicz, said at his sentencing hearing. Our hope for you also, is that you will forgive yourself and move forward one day at a time.

Dondreal Watkins, 29, was shot and killed in the 800 block of Woodbury Avenue in the citys Northside neighborhood at around 6 p.m. July 22, 2020. Watkins was the first of two homicide victims that night in the city. (Courtesy photo | Shontel Lewis-McDonald)

July 22: Dondreal Frank Watkins, 29, of Kalamazoo, was shot and killed in the 800 block of Woodbury Avenue in the citys Northside neighborhood at around 6 p.m. Responding officers found Watkins laying on the ground when they arrived. Watkins was rushed to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Watkins was a father of five children ranging in age between 1 and 11, and had a smile that lit up the world, his older sister Shontel Lewis-McDonald told MLive.

A graduate of Loy Norrix High School, he had plans to open a car wash and detailing business named Franks after his nickname, something she said will now do in his honor.

No one has been arrested in Watkins slaying, but a suspect, or suspects, have been identified, Boysen said.

They know who did it, but they dont have anyone to testify that wants to get on the stand because everybodys afraid of being a snitch these days, Lewis-McDonald said. But if you love that person and if you call this person a brother, I dont believe yall just let this man just run the streets and continue shooting people because you all live by the code.

I just dont believe in that snitch stuff no more.

DeVante Coleman, 28, is flanked by his younger twin brothers Marquis and Marquez in a somewhat recent photograph. Coleman was shot and killed in the citys Edison neighborhood at around 7:30 p.m. July 22, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Melody Coleman)

July 22: DeVante Coleman, 28, was shot and killed in the citys Edison neighborhood at around 7:30 p.m. Officers responded to the 1400 block of Cameron Street where they located Coleman laying on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Both Watkins and Coleman were group related and we believe that Coleman was a retaliation killing that same night, Habel said. We are still actively investigating and putting those two cases together.

Similar to Watkins case, no one has been arrested in Colemans slaying, he said.

Lewis-McDonald said both Watkins and Coleman were both innocent victims who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. She said neither man ran the streets.

At his celebration of life, the 28-year-old Coleman was remembered as a lyricist who loved to rap, a hard worker, a father of a young daughter and someone with a smile that lit up a room. He attended Kalamazoo Loy Norrix High School when he was younger.

Melody Coleman, DeVantes grandmother, said she cradled her grandson in her arms just moments after he was shot. Coleman said she gets sick to her stomach whenever she thinks about it, but the experience inspired her to start a dialogue surrounding too many senseless killings happening in Kalamazoo.

Kalamazoo Public Safety officers investigate the killing of Brandon Brewer. Officers were called to the scene, in the 1000 block of S. Rose Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at around 2:45 p.m., Aug. 2, 2020. (MLive file photo | Joel Bissell)Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Aug. 2: Brandon Brewer, 30, of Kalamazoo, was shot and killed at 2:45 p.m. on the Sunday afternoon, in the 1000 block of South Rose Street in the citys Vine neighborhood.

Officers found Brewer unresponsive, suffering from several gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Brewer was described by family as a caring, loving father, friend and brother.

No arrests have been made in his slaying. But a suspect, or suspects, have been identified by police, and Habel said the case continues to be actively investigated.

On Aug. 12, police found 14-month-old Meilani Marie Hart unresponsive in an apartment in the 61000 block of Condor Court at Milham Meadows. Jacob Britton Emmendorfer, 27, was arrested Dec. 18 after a four-month investigation and is being charged with homicide, child abuse and first-degree criminal sexual assault. (MLive file photo | Crystal Vander Weit)KALAMAZOO

Aug. 13: Meilani Marie Hart, 14 months, was found unresponsive at around 10 p.m. Dec. 12 in a Portage apartment in the 61000 block of Condor Court.

She was pronounced dead hours later at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Jacob Britton Emmendorfer, 27, was arrested Dec. 18 after a four-month investigation. Emmendorfer, the estranged boyfriend of the victims mother, has been charged with three felonies in the case, including homicide, child abuse and first-degree criminal sexual assault.

He is being held at the Kalamazoo County Jail without bond.

Portage Public Safety Chief Nicholas Armold confirmed with MLive that the CSC charge also involved the now-deceased victim in the case.

This is, was, a very difficult incident to have to respond to and investigate, Armold said. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of this innocent child. All around, this is just a sad incident.

The killing was the second of a small child at the apartment complex this year. Royalty Houston-Hooper had also lived at Milham Meadows Apartments.

Brandon Montclair Kelley, 31, of Kalamazoo, died Aug. 31, 2020, six days after he was found unresponsive by police suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 500 block of Ada Street in Kalamazoo's Northside neighborhood. (Photo | Facebook)

Aug. 31: Brandon Montclair Kelley, 31, originally of Kalamazoo was found unresponsive by police in the 500 block of Ada Street at 12:15 a.m. Aug. 25 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Six days later, Kelley died as a result of those injuries.

Kelley, according to his obituary, leaves behind a wife and son. He was born and raised in Kalamazoo and attended Kalamazoo Central High School. He moved to Houston, Texas, in 2011.

No arrests have been made in Kelleys slaying due to a lack of witness cooperation, Habel said.

This poor man was gunned down on the streets, he said. There was a large group of people right there and we are just not getting any witnesses cooperating with us. Were not going to be able to solve these cases as detectives or investigators without assistance from this community.

Michael David-Jewel Clopton III, 21, was shot and killed inside a residence in the 100 block of Frank Street in the citys Northside neighborhood at around 11 p.m. on Oct. 6, 2020. (Courtesy photo | Majoria Brand)

Oct. 6: Michael David-Jewel Clopton III, 21, was shot and killed inside a residence in the 100 block of Frank Street at 11 p.m. in the citys Northside neighborhood.

Police have spoken to people who were inside the home that night, and a suspect has been identified, but no one is cooperating, Habel said. Detectives are waiting on ballistic evidence to come back and hoping they will be able to make an arrest at that point in time.

Cloptons grandmother Majoria Brand said neither police nor community leaders have been in contact with the family and as an active resident of Kalamazoo for more than 47 years it has her frustrated with the community. Clopton was her first grandson of 24 grandchildren, she said, and had always been her baby.

You can only imagine what these families are going through, and I understand, she said. We have rights to answers. We have a right to be acknowledged.

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Kalamazoos homicide victims of 2020 remembered - mlive.com