In the winter of 2022, a young life was abruptly cut short on the streets of Grand Rapids. On the evening of February 5th, 19-year-old JaShon Angel Large, a male, was inside his vehicle near the intersection of Hall Street and Phillips Avenue SW when another car pulled alongside him. Multiple gunshots shattered the quiet, striking JaShon in the head and torso. First responders arrived at the scene to find him gravely wounded. Despite their efforts and being rushed to St.
Mary's Hospital, he succumbed to his injuries. At the time of the incident, he was alone in his car.
The investigation into the homicide stretched on for many months as detectives from the Grand Rapids Police Department worked to bring justice for JaShon and his family. Their persistent efforts eventually led to a significant breakthrough in the case. More than a year and a half after the fatal shooting, an arrest was made.
In September 2023, the Grand Rapids Police Department announced that they had taken 20-year-old Daquin Damar Freeman into custody in connection with JaShon's death. Freeman has since been charged with first-degree murder, felony firearm, and other weapons-related offenses. The arrest marked a pivotal moment in a long and arduous investigation, offering a measure of resolution to a community shaken by the violent loss of a young man.
