In the spring of 2022, a night out in Mt. Morris Township, Michigan, ended in tragedy, claiming the life of 36-year-old Tony Lance Owens, a male resident of Flint. Remembered as a family man with a heart of gold, Owens was known for his friendly demeanor and a smile that could light up a room. He was a dedicated cook at Cracker Barrel and a loving father, always the first to arrive at any family gathering, eager to be the life of the party.
His passions included a love for sneakers and an avid following of football and basketball, particularly the Patriots and the Lakers.
On the night of Saturday, April 23, 2022, what began as an altercation inside the Prime Eight Ten restaurant spilled out into the parking lot, erupting into a chaotic scene of gunfire. Tony Lance Owens was an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire as he and others attempted to flee the escalating violence. He was struck by the gunfire and found grievously wounded in the parking lot of a nearby tire shop. Another man, 42-year-old Johntavies Jauckquece Small, was also killed in the shootout. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but the violence had already claimed its victims. Between 30 and 45 shell casings were recovered from the restaurant's parking lot, a stark testament to the intensity of the exchange.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Mt. Morris Township police began their investigation, seeking to piece together the events that led to the deaths of two men. Law enforcement officials announced that they were searching for suspects who had fled the scene in a white Dodge Durango. The community and the family of Tony Lance Owens were left to mourn a senseless loss. His funeral was held on May 5, 2022, at the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, where friends and family gathered to remember a man taken too soon. Despite the initial details released by the police, there have been no subsequent public announcements regarding any arrests, charges, or legal proceedings in connection with the deaths of Tony Lance Owens and Johntavies Jauckquece Small. The case, it appears, remains an unresolved chapter of violence that stole a beloved father and friend from his community.
