In the early hours of Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2021, a night of supposed celebration turned tragic inside the bustling Cricket Club bar in Battle Creek, Michigan. It was there that 29-year-old Xavier West, a father to an 8-year-old girl, was shot and killed. The man responsible for the fatal shooting was identified as Adam Yancer, a security guard at the establishment.
The events of that night unfolded amidst a chaotic scene, with reports of fights breaking out on the second
floor of the club. An altercation occurred involving West, which ultimately led to Yancer discharging his weapon. West, who was unarmed, was struck by the gunfire and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. In the immediate aftermath, family and friends of West gathered to demand justice, questioning the necessity of lethal force and calling for criminal charges to be brought against the security guard. They described West as a loving family man and could not fathom why he would not be returning home.
The Battle Creek Police Department conducted an investigation into the shooting and subsequently recommended that charges be filed against Adam Yancer. However, the case took a significant turn when the Calhoun County Prosecutor, David Gilbert, announced that his office would not be pursuing criminal charges. In a detailed 15-page opinion, the prosecutor's office concluded that they could not disprove Yancer's claim of self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt, making a conviction unlikely. This decision was met with profound disappointment and heartbreak by Xavier West's family, who viewed it as a miscarriage of justice. The Battle Creek Police Chief, while respecting the prosecutor's decision, requested that the Michigan Attorney General's office review the case and its findings. Despite the family's pleas and the police department's initial recommendation, no charges were filed against Adam Yancer in the death of Xavier West.
