Jontell White was a father to two young daughters, ages 11 and one, whom his own mother described as a helpful and loving person. Friends and acquaintances recalled how the 30-year-old Black male had helped them in some way, whether it was with moving or something else.
In the early morning hours of January 14, 2023, Jontell was shot and killed outside the Metro Grand Rapids bar on South Division Avenue in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Grand Rapids Police officers heard the gunfire around 1:45 a.m. and found Jontell deceased at the scene. His death was ruled a homicide three days later. Police believed the shooting was not random and that Jontell was specifically targeted.
For nearly three years, the case remained unsolved. Investigators continued to pursue leads, and in September 2025, the Grand Rapids Police Department released surveillance video of a suspect, appealing to the community for new information. The footage showed a man walking calmly through the parking lot just moments before the shooting occurred. Police Chief Eric Winstrom described the shooting as "clearly personal" and noted the "brazen audacity" of the killer.
The public plea and continued detective work led to the identification of a suspect. In November 2025, authorities charged Andrew Merriweather, 35, in connection with Jontell White's death. Merriweather was arraigned in 61st District Court on December 4, 2025, on charges of first-degree murder, felony firearm, and carrying a concealed weapon. At the time of his arraignment, he was already in custody with the Michigan Department of Corrections for a separate, unrelated crime.
According to court documents, surveillance footage captured the suspect taking out a handgun and firing multiple rounds at White as he stood near a car. The gunman then fled the scene in a Jeep that was later determined to belong to Merriweather, who was also identified as the driver. On March 13, 2026, a judge ordered Andrew Merriweather to stand trial in the death of Jontell White.
