Parents of victims of unsolved homicides air frustrations with Lansing police

LANSING — It's been more than 100 days since 16-year-old Marshawn Beard was shot and killed.

His June 13 death remains unsolved and his father, Marlon Beard, is frustrated. He feels like his son's case has fallen between the cracks. 

"If it weren't for the love of family and friends, he would just be forgotten," Beard said. 

Beard and five other family members of Black boys and men who have been killed in Lansing gathered Friday morning to talk about their frustrations with the Lansing Police Department and how the city has been handling the increase in gun violence this year. 

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Love Seay, the aunt of Ardis Davis, said her family is frustrated because they feel police are not following up on tips they provided. Davis was shot Aug. 15 and died four days later. His death remains unsolved. 

"We want the detectives to put in the work," Seay said. "What they can do is their job. Act like they care. Show some empathy." 

She knows there were witnesses to the shooting; they gave police descriptions of the involved men and their vehicles. But nothing has been done with it, she said. 

Lansing Police Chief Ellery Sosebee said in an emailed statement that these homicides are being investigated by “experienced Detectives who want to bring justice to the victim’s families.”

“I can assure the victim’s families and the citizens of Lansing the Lansing Police Department Detective group is working tirelessly on identifying and charging the people responsible,” Sosebee wrote. “In these cases, the department and the detectives need additional evidence and witnesses to come forward to assist in the investigation for an ultimate charge in the crime.

“We have in the past and continue to ask the public for help in each of these homicide investigations. With the public’s help many crimes are solved. Citizens are the eyes and ears of the community that aid the Police in many aspects.”

Sosebee said the Michigan State Police detective handling Marshawn’s case has been in contact with his family.

Nine of 22 homicides in Lansing this year remain unsolved. All nine are of Black men and boys under the age of 27. 

'It's like they put him on the back burner'

Judy Booker, the mom of Tim Minor III — who was shot and killed in May along with Kian Miller Jr. — said it's been a long time since she's heard anything from Lansing police about Minor's death. She wishes they would call her with an update. 

It frightens her to think of Minor's death becoming a cold case. 

"It's like they put him on the back burner," Booker said. "I'm mad because I feel like you guys [Lansing police] don't care. All we're asking for is some help." 

She and Miller's mother, Devonne Brown, say they know who killed their sons. They've told police. But no arrests have been made. 

"Everybody knows who did it," Brown said. "I don't understand it." 

Sosebee said in an email that Capt. Robert Backus and Sgt. Rick Thomas have regular contact with Booker. 

Sheri Pruitt said she knows if no one is arrested for the homicides of Marshawn, Minor, Miller or Davis within a year, their cases will end up sitting in a box in a room with all the other cold cases. Like the case of her son, 17-year-old Richard Pruitt, who was killed in 2014. Police know who killed Richard but don't have the evidence to prove it, she said. 

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Lansing police has one cold case detective to handle more than 80 unsolved homicides. The new state budget, which still must be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer still must sign, allocates $75,000 for LPD for cold case investigations. 

No consequences

The parents and family members of the homicide victims are frustrated knowing their children's killers are out on the streets. 

"There's no consequences. ... it's lawlessness. It's like they're playing a video game on the street," Beard said. 

Beard said he knew a rise in violence among youth was going to happen after the Lansing School District canceled sports last year because of the pandemic. The kids had no structure and were separated from their friends. They spent their time playing video games and listening to music that kept telling them to shoot, he said.

"You hand them a gun, what do you think they're gonna do?" Beard said. "That's when this was all set in motion."

For Shirley Mitchner, whose son Brandon drowned in June 2014, the lack of police interest stings. She said there is evidence that shows her son may have been pushed into the Grand River by one of the men he was with. But police refuse to take the actions needed to get answers, she said. 

Sosebee said Brandon Mitchner’s death was ruled accidental and she has had several agencies investigate his death in past years. 

Mitchner and Pruitt have spent years watching the men they believe to be responsible for their sons' deaths grow older. 

"There's no consequences for our children's murderers," Pruitt said. "How long do you think we can sit by and watch our son's murderers living their best life?"

Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95.