GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Investigators made a major announcement in one of West Michigan's highest-profile crimes of 2023.
A suspect connected to three homicide cases from Nov. 6, 2023, has been arrested and charged in two of those deaths.
Casey Harmon, Jr. faces two counts of open murder and a felony weapons charge. The 19-year-old is accused of shooting Anayia Rodriguez and Malik Eubanks, then dumping their bodies on two separate streets in the Burton Heights neighborhood. Rodriguez was found on Melville Street. Eubanks was found on Horton Avenue.
Grand Rapids
3 victims ID'd in complex Burton Heights murder investigation
"We're headed down the path now where we're going to be able to provide some closure and justice for the families of Malika and Anayia," Chief Eric Winstrom said.
Court records show Harmon, Jr. and Malik knew each other. Documents also show that the suspect made derogatory comments about Malik.
"I'm not ready to share exactly what the connection is between the offender and victim, but I don't believe they're strangers. This wasn't a case of random violence," Winstrom added.
FOX 17 obtained video appearing to show one of the bodies being pushed out of a vehicle before driving off.
Eubanks's 2-year-old child was found wandering nearly a mile away from the neighborhood. Court records show police located a distinct jacket with an NBA logo with blood on it near the 2-year-old. Those documents also explain that police found photos of Harmon, Jr. wearing that jacket.
Eubanks's child has been reunited with family.
Later that evening police found the vehicle believed to be involved, parked and empty on Sherman Avenue.
Jail records show Harmon, Jr. has been in custody since March 15, 2024, on charges of perjury, resisting arrest and illegally carrying a concealed weapon. Three of those charges have since been dropped.
The news of a suspect being charged comes after nearly a year of worry by neighbors.
Grand Rapids
Police chief confident arrest forthcoming after 3 murdered in Burton Heights
“I hope these charges bring some closure to the loved ones of Anayia and Malik and will help our city, and this neighborhood in particular, heal from that tragic day,” said Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom. “Our GRPD detective team has been working tirelessly for almost a year to bring justice and accountability in these brazen murders. We very much appreciate the assistance and support we’ve received from our community over the course of the investigation. I ask that anyone who may have information connected to Darryl’s murder contact GRPD or Silent Observer so that his loved ones can also have a sense of closure.”
Hours after the bodies were found, shots rang out along Horton Avenue, near where a FOX 17 crew was reporting live. That shooting left Darryl Yarber dead. The investigation into his death continues without a publicly named suspect.
Follow FOX 17: Facebook - X (formerly Twitter) - Instagram - YouTube
