On a cold February night in Battle Creek, Michigan, 17-year-old Jack Snyder’s act of kindness tragically ended his life. The Battle Creek Central High School senior was on his way home from his girlfriend's birthday party shortly after midnight on February 17, 2023, when he saw two younger boys walking in the freezing temperatures and offered them a ride.
The two individuals, later identified as 14-year-old Justice Chimner and 13-year-old Dewond Estes III, accepted the ride.
However, their intention was not to simply get out of the cold; they planned to steal a car. During the ride, the two teenagers attempted to carjack Snyder. When he resisted, Chimner fatally shot him twice. Snyder was found deceased in the road next to his vehicle at the corner of Battle Creek Avenue and Capital Avenue SW.
An investigation, aided by surveillance footage and community tips, led police to arrest both Chimner and Estes. A handgun believed to be the murder weapon was also recovered. Both teenagers were charged as adults. Justice Chimner was charged with felony murder, carjacking, and two felony firearms charges. Dewond Estes III was also charged with felony murder and carjacking.
During the legal proceedings, Estes pleaded guilty to carjacking in exchange for the dismissal of the murder charge against him. He was sentenced as a juvenile but convicted as an adult, meaning he will remain in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services until he is 18, at which point an adult sentence could be imposed depending on his progress. Justice Chimner pleaded guilty to open murder. He was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison for the killing. A third individual, 20-year-old Marcus Parsons, was later charged with felony murder for his alleged involvement in asking one of the teens to steal a car in exchange for money.
