Two teens face open murder charges in the killing of Kalen Mathews

Two teenagers have been charged with open murder in connection with the killing of a Lansing 19-year-old earlier this month.

The two boys, both 17, are being charged in connection with the killing of Kalen Mathews, who was shot to death May 6 in the 900 block of Bensch Street in Lansing.

Police arrested one 17-year-old shortly after Mathews' death, holding him at the Ingham County Youth Home on murder charges. They did not say when the second 17-year-old was arrested.

The teens, whom the State Journal is not naming because they have not been charged as adults, will face two upcoming hearings, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mike Cheltenham said. The first will determine probable cause for the charges, while the second will determine whether they will be charged as adults.

The waiver hearing is set for June 6, Lansing police Capt. Rodney Anderson said in an email.

Officers found Mathews in the road May 6 with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a news release.

Mathews’ family described him as a confident kid who was usually joking around.

“Sometimes he’d say something and we’re just like, ‘Bro, just shut up. You’re so stupid.’ Because he’s always joking and just being goofy,” his sister Jada Page said previously. “He was kind of just cocky … but not in a bad way. It was natural. He just had this thing to him.”

More:19-year-old killed in Lansing loved 'doing the right things,' planned to join Air Force

More:Lansing police release ID of 19-year-old killed Friday, arrest juvenile suspect

Contact reporter Jared Weber at 517-582-3937 or jtweber@lsj.com.