In the early evening of April 23, 2014, a sense of celebration was in the air for 17-year-old Marquis Gresham. A talented member of the Muskegon Heights High School basketball team that had impressively reached the state semi-finals, he was walking with friends along 5th Street, on his way to a banquet meant to honor their achievements. That promising future was tragically cut short in a sudden act of violence.
As the group walked, a burgundy SUV approached, and from within, a revolver was fired once into the group of boys. The single bullet struck Marquis.
Witnesses described hearing the rapid succession of four gunshots around 6:15 p.m. and seeing the SUV speed away from the scene. A local resident and her husband rushed to the fallen teenager's side, attempting to render aid and urging him to hold on until help arrived. Marquis looked up at the man before closing his eyes. He was pronounced dead shortly after the shooting. The investigation that followed revealed a heartbreaking reality: Marquis Gresham was not the intended target. He was simply an innocent bystander, in the wrong place at the wrong time. His death sent shockwaves through the community, which remembered him as a nice guy who liked to laugh and didn't cause trouble.
The investigation led to the arrests of two men, Shundarius Lawson and his cousin, Ryheim Beasley. Both were charged with open murder. The narrative of that fatal evening became clearer during court proceedings. Beasley admitted to being the driver, stating he drove Lawson to Muskegon Heights with the intention of finding 'some Heights boys.' In a pivotal moment, Beasley chose to cooperate with prosecutors. He agreed to testify against Lawson in exchange for a reduced charge of second-degree murder.
Faced with his cousin's testimony, Shundarius Lawson, the man who fired the gun, entered a no-contest plea to second-degree murder. In October 2015, Ryheim Beasley was sentenced to serve 16 to 35 years in prison for his role in the drive-by shooting. During his sentencing, he expressed deep remorse to Gresham's family. A month later, in November 2015, Shundarius Lawson was also sentenced for the murder, bringing a close to the legal chapter of a senseless act that claimed the life of a promising young student-athlete.
