In the brisk evening of November 4, 2024, the city of Kalamazoo was pierced by an act of violence that claimed the life of 34-year-old Paris Anton Powe. Powe, a male resident of Kalamazoo, was discovered inside a Chevrolet Trailblazer in the vicinity of Egleston Avenue and Reed Court, having sustained a fatal gunshot wound. When officers from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety arrived at the 400 block of Egleston Avenue around 10:25 p.m., they pronounced him dead at the scene.
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initial investigation revealed a complex series of events leading up to the tragic shooting. Powe was not alone in his final moments; a 40-year-old man was also found at the scene with a non-fatal gunshot wound. Investigators believe that both Powe and the second victim had been with a third individual at a different location earlier that night before they all traveled together to the area where the shooting occurred. It is alleged that this third person opened fire on Powe and the other man before fleeing the scene on foot. While the surviving victim's injuries were not considered life-threatening, the incident left the community seeking answers and justice for Powe.
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety actively pursued leads in the homicide investigation. Their efforts led them to identify a suspect, Norris Deshane Baker, a 35-year-old who was on parole at the time of the incident. After the shooting, Baker fled the state of Michigan. The investigation tracked him to Harris County, Texas, where he was taken into custody on December 20, 2024.
Following his apprehension, Baker was extradited back to Michigan to face legal proceedings. On November 18, 2025, he was arraigned on multiple serious charges, including open murder, five counts of felony firearm, assault with intent to murder, two counts of armed robbery, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. During his arraignment, the presiding magistrate denied bond, and Baker is currently lodged with the Michigan Department of Corrections as he awaits further court proceedings. The investigation into the death of Paris Powe remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to encourage anyone with information to come forward.
