GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Police are releasing the name of a man who was shot and killed on the 100 block of Leonard Street in Grand Rapids Christmas Day.
Investigators said Darwin DeMarcus Weathers, formerly a resident of Saginaw, was the victim.
Police said it’s believed to be a situation involving domestic violence.
Neighbors said it was Taneesha Smith, a resident in the upstairs apartment, who shot Weathers.
Police said the two were both from Saginaw and had moved to Grand Rapids about four months ago.
One neighbor who wished to remain anonymous said she heard gunshots from the apartment.
“I heard a shot and some commotion and then another shot and another shot and running down the steps and then there was no noise,” said Smith’s neighbor.” When somebody walked back downstairs, I said, ‘I’m going to find out what’s going on.’ ”
The neighbors were frightened for their own children and Smith’s.
“I opened the door. That’s when she had, you know , grabbed me and she’s just like, ‘I shot my old man’,” said the neighbor. “She was crying and told me to call 911. I don’t think she believed she did it. I was in shock. I was scared for my kids. Luckily their dad was here. He had them under control and we didn’t know if she was going to come down and shoot some more.”
When Smith’s neighbor went outside her back door, Weathers was lying on the ground near a recycling bin.
“The guy was breathing, gasping,” she said. “He turned over at that time and looked up at me.”
Smith may have had as many as three young children according to neighbors. Although they were home at the time of the shooting it’s unclear if they witnessed it.
“I’m just glad that my family is OK and her kids are OK,” said Smith’s neighbor. “It could have been worse.”
Police said the children were taken by child protective services. They were looking to try to place them with relatives. Smith could be arraigned as early as Thursday.
