In a heartbreaking turn of events on a Monday evening in a Kalamazoo alley, the life of 17-year-old Daquarion Hunter was cut tragically short. The young man, a recent graduate of Loy Norrix High School, was with friends when a gun was accidentally discharged. The incident, which occurred on September 5, 2016, was not the result of a dispute or fight, but rather a catastrophic accident among teenagers.
Hunter, known affectionately as 'D.Q.,' was struck by the gunfire and succumbed to his injuries in the arms of a friend.
The tragedy was compounded when the friend responsible for the accidental shooting, 17-year-old Marsavious Frazier, took his own life out of distress. A witness at the scene recounted the devastating sequence of events to police, confirming that there had been no altercation leading up to the fatal shot. The Kalamazoo community was left to mourn the loss of two young lives in a single, senseless moment. Daquarion Hunter was remembered as an outstanding athlete who had a deep love for football and basketball, having played for 12 years. He was a loving son, brother, and uncle who had dreams of one day becoming a law enforcement officer to protect and serve his community.
The Kalamazoo Public Schools superintendent released a statement expressing the profound tragedy of the situation and made grief counselors available to students and staff at both Loy Norrix High School, where Hunter had just graduated, and Phoenix High School, where Frazier was a student. The devastating incident left two families and a community heartbroken over the sudden and unnecessary loss of two promising young men.
