Westley Edward Cheeks, a 30-year-old male, was fatally shot on Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Lansing, Michigan. His body was discovered inside a residence on the city's east side. The Lansing Police Department's investigation into the shooting determined that it was a targeted incident and not a random act of violence, assuring the public that there was no immediate threat to the community.
Within days of the discovery of Cheeks's body, authorities made an arrest in connection with the
homicide. On April 5, 2017, Dequaries Devonte Jackson, a 22-year-old from Lansing, was taken into custody. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort between the Lansing Violent Crime Impact Team, the Michigan State Police fugitive team, the Detroit fugitive team, and the United States Marshals Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team. Jackson was subsequently charged with open murder and weapons offenses.
During court proceedings that commenced in January 2018, details emerged regarding a possible motive for the shooting. A witness provided testimony suggesting that the fatal encounter stemmed from a dispute over money and potentially other unresolved issues between Cheeks and Jackson. Westley Edward Cheeks, Sr., as he was also known, left behind a son, Westley Edward Cheeks, Jr., along with his parents and siblings.
