On a Mother's Day in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a tragic and violent event unfolded, forever altering the lives of a local family. Marcus Leonard Pierce Sr., a 33-year-old man, was fatally shot on May 14, 2023. The shooting occurred in the 500 block of Ada Street, where Pierce was the victim of a drive-by shooting that also left two other individuals, a 58-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, injured.
Known to his loved ones as 'Marc G,' Pierce was remembered as an outgoing man who cherished spending quality time with his children and was often considered the life of the party.
The investigation into the homicide led by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety spanned several months and crossed state lines. In October 2023, authorities announced the arrest of 18-year-old Andrew Johnson of Kalamazoo. He was arraigned on charges of open murder and 19 other charges, and the judge denied him bond. The investigation continued, leading to further developments in the case.
Subsequent legal proceedings brought some measure of justice for the death of Marcus Pierce. Another individual involved, Demario Deonte Jackson, who was 19 at the time of his conviction, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. For his role in the fatal drive-by shooting, Jackson was sentenced to a prison term of 18 to 50 years. The pursuit of all those responsible continued, and in March 2025, a third suspect, 23-year-old Dontaviour Lawrel Smith, was apprehended in Atlanta, Georgia, by U.S. Marshals. Smith was wanted on a nine-count felony warrant that included charges of open murder and assault with intent to murder. His arrest was the result of a coordinated effort between law enforcement agencies in Michigan and Georgia. During Smith's arrest, authorities also seized multiple firearms, drugs, and money. He is awaiting extradition back to Michigan to face the charges against him.
