In the spring of 2020, a Kalamazoo family was irrevocably altered by a tragic event that unfolded within their own community. Carmen Renee Hughes, a 46-year-old woman, died on March 27, 2020. Born on May 28, 1973, in Kalamazoo, she was a familiar face in the city, having attended Kalamazoo public schools and graduated from Plainwell high school. She was known for her work as a bus driver for Kalamazoo Schools and as a Certified Nursing Assistant in various nursing homes.
The
circumstances of her death were heartbreakingly familial. Her son, Shaquwan Allen Hughes, who was 25 years old at the time, was identified as the one responsible for the fatal incident. The shooting was determined to be accidental, occurring while he was under the influence of drugs. This led to his arrest and subsequent legal proceedings.
Ultimately, Shaquwan Allen Hughes pleaded guilty to a charge of discharging a firearm while under the influence. As a result of his plea, he was sentenced to six months in jail. Following his incarceration, he was also ordered to serve two years of probation. The case highlighted a personal tragedy within a local family, leading to the untimely death of a mother at the hands of her son.
