John Conyers, a 30-year-old Black male, had only been a resident of Benton Harbor, Michigan, for about six months before his life was cut short on April 7, 2017. What began as an illicit sale of pills in the parking lot of the Salvation Army on Michigan Avenue escalated into a physical altercation. During the fight, Conyers was shot twice in the torso.
Officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 7:50 p.m. where they found Conyers in serious condition. He was rushed to Lakeland Hospital, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died. For a time, there were no suspects in custody as the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety, along with the Michigan State Police Major Crimes Unit, the Berrien County Sheriff's Department, and the FBI VCTF, investigated the homicide.
Months later, on December 1, 2017, an arrest was made. Willie Deandre Hassel, a 20-year-old from Benton Harbor, was charged with open murder in connection with Conyers' death. In addition to the murder charge, which carried a potential sentence of life without parole, Hassel also faced charges of carrying a concealed weapon, conspiracy to deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, and felony firearm. His bail was set at $700,000. The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office proceeded with the case against Hassel, emphasizing that the charges were accusations until proven guilty.
