On a Sunday morning in October of 2015, the body of 19-year-old LaQuavis Quay Cooper, a Black male, was discovered by a passerby near a playground in Fordney Park on Saginaw's west side. An investigation revealed he had been fatally shot. Cooper, a resident of Saginaw who had recently moved to Grand Rapids, was a father to a one-year-old son and was known for his love of music, video games, and painting cars. He attended Arthur Hill High School and was employed by NBHX Trim U.S.A. in Grand Rapids. At the time of his death, he was back in his hometown of Saginaw.
The investigation into Cooper's death quickly uncovered a tragic story of a robbery that turned into a homicide. Three individuals were arrested in connection with the murder. The plan was orchestrated by Charles Edward Wilson Jr. and Jason Wrenn, who intended to rob Cooper after he cashed a check. They enlisted the help of Jamal Reid, who drove them from Grand Rapids to Saginaw. On October 18, 2015, Reid dropped Cooper and Wrenn off near Cooper's home. It was in the nearby park that Wrenn shot Cooper twice in the head and stole his money.
Following the murder, Wrenn informed his accomplices of what had transpired and distributed a portion of the stolen money to Wilson. The subsequent legal proceedings brought charges against all three men. Jamal Reid accepted a plea agreement and provided crucial testimony against Wilson and Wrenn, which was instrumental in securing their convictions. Charles Edward Wilson Jr. was ultimately convicted of felony murder, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to a prison term of 35 to 60 years for the murder conviction, in addition to sentences for the other charges.
