In the early hours of a Wednesday morning in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the life of Wesley Arthur Carroll, a 52-year-old Caucasian man, was tragically cut short. On March 29, 2017, at approximately 12:24 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire in the 100 block of Putnam Street SW. Upon arrival, they discovered Carroll lying outside a residence, having sustained at least one gunshot wound.
Despite the immediate efforts of first responders to save him, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy later confirmed that a gunshot wound was the cause of death.
Those who knew Wesley, also known as 'Tree Man,' remembered him as an incredibly kind and generous person. His partner of 20 years, Tina Morey, described him as the 'nicest person' who 'would give his shirt off his back.' She was nearby when the shots were fired and tragically found him lying in an alley off Putnam and Ionia. Another acquaintance, a former neighbor, echoed these sentiments, recalling him as 'really sweet, caring, said hi to everybody he met.'
At the time, Carroll's death marked the fourth homicide in Grand Rapids for that year, contributing to a concerning increase in gun violence in the city. The Grand Rapids Police Department launched a thorough investigation into the shooting, initially terming it a 'death investigation' pending the autopsy results. However, despite their ongoing efforts and public appeals for information, the case remains unsolved.
To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Wesley Arthur Carroll, and no suspects have been publicly identified. Authorities have urged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward to assist in bringing closure to his loved ones and justice for his untimely death. The case is one of several unsolved homicides from 2017 that continue to be investigated by the Grand Rapids Police Department.
