On an early August day in Lansing, Michigan, a domestic dispute tragically escalated, cutting short the life of 21-year-old D'Angelo Hayward. The incident unfolded on August 3, 2023, at the BLVD West apartment complex located in the 3200 block of Forest Road. During the altercation, Hayward, a Black male, was fatally shot. A 16-year-old girl who was also present sustained injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement
authorities quickly launched an investigation that led them to a suspect. Seventeen-year-old DePriest Morrell of Meridian Township was identified and taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting. The Ingham County Prosecutor's Office made the decision to charge Morrell as an adult, facing serious accusations of open murder and a felony firearm charge for his alleged role in D'Angelo Hayward's death.
Following his arrest, DePriest Morrell was held in custody as the legal process began to unfold. A probable cause conference was scheduled to take place before Judge Kristen Simmons on August 18, 2023, to review the evidence against him. In the wake of this violent act, the community mourned the loss of a young man. A GoFundMe campaign was initiated to help alleviate the financial burden of funeral expenses for Hayward's grieving family. Family and friends gathered to remember and honor his life at a funeral service held on August 14, 2023, at the Greater Bible Way Temple in Jackson, Michigan.
