On November 20, 2020, the city of Saginaw, Michigan, recorded its 22nd homicide of the year with the death of 35-year-old Brett Schust. The incident occurred on a Friday, marking a violent end to the life of a long-time Saginaw resident. Authorities identified the cause of death as a fatal shooting, adding Schust’s name to the list of victims lost to gun violence in the community that year.
Brett Schust was born on October 1, 1985, in Saginaw. He was remembered by those who knew him as a gentle and naturally funny individual who possessed a distinct ability to make others laugh with ease. Friends and family described him as having a "big smile" and a kind heart, qualities that defined his personal relationships. He was survived by his mother and a wide circle of lifelong friends, having been preceded in death by his father. Following his death, his family chose to hold a private gathering, with cremation arrangements handled by a local funeral home.
Despite the investigation launched by the Saginaw Police Department and the Michigan State Police following the shooting, public records and news reports from the time and subsequent years do not detail the apprehension of a specific suspect in connection with Schust's murder. While other homicide cases in Saginaw from the same period saw arrests and charges, no information regarding a trial or conviction specifically related to the death of Brett Schust has been widely publicized in online sources. The case remains one of the violent crimes investigated during a particularly deadly year for the city.
