In the summer of 2017, the life of Cornelius Laverne Wallace, a 32-year-old Black or African American man from Muskegon, Michigan, was tragically cut short. On the evening of July 2nd, an argument broke out between several men on Ivory Avenue in Muskegon Heights. The verbal confrontation quickly escalated into violence, and between 15 and 20 gunshots rang out in the neighborhood. In the ensuing chaos, Wallace was fatally wounded. The shooting also injured a 7-year-old boy who was playing nearby and was struck by stray bullets. Cornelius Wallace, affectionately known as 'Nelly' to his friends and family, succumbed to his injuries on July 3, 2017, leaving behind a young son.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to identify two suspects. A warrant was issued for the arrest of 19-year-old Keshawn Gresham in connection with Wallace's death. He was later apprehended after a routine traffic stop for a seatbelt violation led to the discovery of evidence linking him to the crime. The Muskegon County Prosecutor's Office filed an eight-count felony warrant against Gresham, which included charges of open murder for the death of Wallace, three counts of assault with intent to murder, and four felony firearm charges.
A second individual, 18-year-old Gentle Jenkins, was also identified as a person of interest in the case. Jenkins was located and arrested in North Carolina. He faced multiple charges, including assault with intent to do great bodily harm, carrying a concealed weapon, resisting and obstructing a police officer, and lying to the police. The charges against both young men marked a significant development in the case, bringing a measure of hope for justice to a community shaken by the violent and senseless loss of life.
