In the early morning hours of July 6, 2026, the life of 49-year-old Latoya Reeves was tragically cut short in her home on Birwood Street in Detroit. Police responded to a call about an "unknown problem" at the residence shortly after 2 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Reeves in the hallway, suffering from gunshot wounds to her chest and right hand.
Paramedics rushed her to a local hospital, but her injuries proved to be fatal, and she was pronounced deceased.
The investigation into Reeves' death quickly focused on her live-in boyfriend, 69-year-old Keith Custer. Authorities allege that Custer used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot and kill Reeves. He was subsequently arrested and the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office charged him with one count of first-degree murder, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, one count of felon in possession of ammunition, and three counts of felony firearm.
Custer was arraigned on July 9, 2026, in 36th District Court and was remanded to jail without bond. The court also ordered a competency evaluation to determine if he is mentally fit to stand trial. The case is currently in its preliminary stages. A Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for July 20, 2026, and a Preliminary Examination is set for July 27, 2026. These hearings will determine if there is enough evidence for the case against Custer to proceed to trial. As of now, the motive for the shooting has not been publicly released by authorities. The legal process will continue to unfold to determine the events that led to the untimely death of Latoya Reeves.
