In the late summer of 2022, the life of 22-year-old DaCarri Damonte Brown was abruptly cut short on the streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan. A Black / African American male, Brown was known for his love of sports and dedication to his family and friends. His death on August 27, 2022, stemmed from a dispute that tragically escalated to fatal violence.
On that Saturday, near a bar on South Division Avenue, an argument erupted over a debt of approximately $200 for a room rental that Brown
reportedly owed. The confrontation quickly intensified, with firearms being drawn by those involved. In the ensuing exchange of gunfire, DaCarri Damonte Brown was fatally wounded. First responders arrived at the scene near Stewart Street SW and S Division Avenue around 1:15 a.m. and attempted lifesaving measures, but their efforts were unsuccessful. The Kent County Medical Examiner later ruled his death a homicide.
The Grand Rapids Police Department's investigation led to the identification and arrest of two suspects in connection with the shooting. Tiesean Hatchett, 31, and Leonard Lee Young Jr., 35, were subsequently charged with multiple offenses, including felony murder and assault with intent to rob while armed. Hatchett was apprehended in September 2022, and it was noted he was on probation at the time of the incident.
The legal process brought both men to justice for their roles in Brown's death. In May 2023, Leonard Lee Young Jr. was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His co-defendant, Tiesean Hatchett, faced a jury in January 2025 and was found guilty of second-degree murder along with other related charges, holding him accountable for his part in the tragic death of DaCarri Damonte Brown.
