KENTWOOD, Mich. – Many in one Kentwood neighborhood are resting easier after charges were authorized for the brutal January murder of David and Vivian Bouwman.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kentwood Police announced Javonte Higgins will be charged for the Bouwmans’ murder. They were shot and killed in their Kentwood home January 5.
Higgins was named a suspect a few days after but there were never any charges for the murders. He is currently in the Kent County jail on unrelated charges.
The Bouwmans’ neighbors say the murders changed their quiet neighborhood forever.
Neighbor Dominic Gradozzi remembers the day it happened, “It was scary,” said neighbor Dominic Gradozzi. “Everybody`s on edge and panicked and wanting to board up your windows,”
He says he was shocked to learn the parents of the suspect lived in their neighborhood.
“People are trying to find protection, whether it’s guns, dogs, alarm systems,whatever. You do what you have to do to keep your family safe,” he said.
Gradozzi has been waiting and hoping for murder charges but also wants the memory of the Bouwmans to be honored.
Kentwood Police will hold a press conference Thursday about the charges authorized against Higgins.
