In the early hours of Friday, June 13, 2025, the life of 30-year-old Semaj Tyrese James, a male from Grand Rapids, Michigan, was tragically cut short. Grand Rapids Police officers responded to a call, initially reported as a stabbing, at a residence in the 1440 block of Cass Avenue SE around 1 a.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered James inside the home, not with stab wounds, but with a fatal gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following an autopsy, the Kent County Medical Examiner officially ruled James' death a homicide. The investigation into the shooting was taken over by the Grand Rapids Police Department's Major Case Team. Investigators believed the deadly incident stemmed from some sort of altercation or fight, though the specific details of what led to the shooting were not immediately clear.
In the weeks that followed, detectives worked to piece together the events that led to James' death. Their investigation culminated in the arrest of a suspect in July 2025. Thirty-year-old Deshun Lewis was taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office subsequently authorized charges against Lewis, including one count of open murder and one count of felony firearm. Following his arrest, Lewis was held at the Kent County Correctional Facility. Grand Rapids Police Chief Eric Winstrom expressed his gratitude for the detectives' work on the case and hoped that the arrest would bring a measure of healing to Semaj James' loved ones.
