In the early morning hours of September 29, 2023, the life of 27-year-old Lavadis Maurice Anthony Crawford-Blackman, a Black male, was cut short in a chaotic burst of gunfire in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The fatal encounter unfolded around 2:10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Division Avenue, where a large crowd had gathered. Grand Rapids Police officers, who happened to be driving through the area, witnessed an active gunfight erupt within the gathering and intervened.
In the aftermath, Crawford-Blackman was found dead at the scene, while another individual was critically wounded with a gunshot to the stomach. The Kent County Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide.
The scene of the shooting was described by the Grand Rapids Police Chief as one of the largest he had encountered in his career, with numerous shell casings scattered over several blocks, indicating the intensity of the violence that had transpired. The investigation into the incident was extensive, spanning eight months as detectives worked to piece together the events of that night and bring those responsible to justice. The breakthrough in the case came with the arrest of Courvoisier Simmons.
Simmons was subsequently charged with multiple felonies, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, for his role in the shootout that led to Crawford-Blackman's death. As the case proceeded toward a trial, a plea deal was reached in March 2025. Simmons pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter and several firearms charges. In exchange for his plea, the more severe charge of second-degree murder, along with other weapons charges and a habitual offender notice, were dismissed. Following his plea, a Kent County judge sentenced Courvoisier Simmons to a prison term of 7 to 21 years, with an additional two years for a felony firearm conviction, bringing a measure of legal closure to a violent episode that ended a young man's life.
