On a tragic evening in Portage, Michigan, the life of Naya Reynolds, a 22-year-old Black/African American woman, was cut short. On August 26, 2022, the Western Michigan University criminal justice student was fatally shot while in a car on the entrance ramp to I-94 at Oakland Drive. The incident also resulted in injuries to a 35-year-old pregnant woman and an 18-month-old child who were in the same vehicle. The pregnant woman survived her injuries, but her unborn child did not.
The investigation into the shooting led police to name Myquan Deontae Rogers, a 31-year-old man from Kalamazoo, as the primary suspect. Authorities believe Rogers targeted the car Naya was in, and an AR-15 rifle that had been reported stolen in 2016 was recovered from the scene. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant, Rogers was located and taken into custody on November 17, 2022, in an apartment in Oshtemo Township.
Rogers has since faced a litany of charges, including open murder, three counts of attempted murder, and numerous firearm-related offenses. After a judge determined there was enough evidence, his case was bound over to circuit court for trial. The legal proceedings have seen delays, with the trial still pending as of early 2025. Naya's mother expressed her frustration with the delays, viewing them as tactics by the accused to prolong the process, but remains steadfast in her pursuit of justice for her daughter.
