On the evening of October 26, 2018, Anthony Lorenzo Yarber, a 27-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in Lansing, Michigan. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. in the 400 block of West Lapeer Street, near the downtown campus of Lansing Community College. Emergency services responded to the scene, and Yarber was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Known affectionately as 'Scooter,' Yarber was remembered by his family as a beloved and outgoing individual with a warm heart who was devoted to his family.
The Lansing Police Department launched an investigation into the shooting, which led to the arrest of a suspect, 27-year-old Demar Lamonte Beard of Lansing. Initially, Beard was charged with second-degree murder and felony firearm possession in connection with Yarber's death. The case proceeded through the legal system, shedding light on the events that transpired on that fatal night.
During the court proceedings, the case against Demar Lamonte Beard took a significant turn. An Ingham County judge dismissed the second-degree murder charge, citing a lack of sufficient probable cause. Instead, Beard was ordered to stand trial on the lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and felony firearm possession. This development in the case altered the course of the legal battle for justice for Anthony Lorenzo Yarber and his grieving family and community.
