Rachel Marie Curl, a 20-year-old female, had a life full of promise that was tragically cut short on the night of October 17, 2020, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Known for her kind heart and as a source of light and encouragement to her friends and family, Rachel was a young woman who cherished spending time with her loved ones, going to the beach to watch sunsets, and caring for her dog, Max.
Her sudden death left a void in the lives of those who knew and loved her.
On that fateful Saturday night, events unfolded at the Hidden Hills Apartments located near the campus of Western Michigan University. Officers from the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety responded to a call and discovered Rachel with a gunshot wound. Despite immediate life-saving efforts and being rushed to Bronson Methodist Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead. The incident, which also resulted in another person being shot, quickly turned into a homicide investigation.
The investigation led authorities to a suspect, Ja'Shaun Markee Jones, a man from Battle Creek. In December 2020, he was charged with open murder and felony firearms in connection with Rachel's death. The case proceeded through the legal system, and in January 2021, a judge determined there was enough evidence for Jones to stand trial for the shooting that killed Rachel and injured another individual.
The trial took place, and on June 13, 2023, the jury reached a verdict. Ja'Shaun Markee Jones was acquitted of the open murder and felony firearms charges related to Rachel's death. The jury, however, could not come to a consensus on six other charges against him. The verdict marked a significant and emotional endpoint in the legal proceedings, leaving Rachel's family and community to continue grappling with her tragic loss.
