In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Flint, Michigan, tragedy struck the Cleaves family. Herbert Cleaves, a 27-year-old man, was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. as two vehicles passed a home and opened fire. Cleaves was struck in the abdomen and rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At the time of his death, his younger brother, Mateen Cleaves, was a rookie playing for the Detroit Pistons and a celebrated former basketball star from Michigan State University.
The investigation into Herbert Cleaves' death quickly pointed to a targeted act, though authorities believed he was not the intended victim. It was suggested that the assailants held a grudge against a companion of Cleaves and had been actively searching for this individual. Tragically, Cleaves was in the wrong place at the wrong time, becoming an unintended casualty of a dispute he may not have even been aware of. The authorities indicated that they had received significant cooperation from the community, with several eyewitnesses coming forward with information.
In the days following the shooting, the investigation led to the identification of suspects. A warrant was issued, and soon after, 19-year-old Jaroy L. Davis surrendered to the authorities. He was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm during a felony. Shortly thereafter, a second suspect, 23-year-old Dontrell Y. Smith of Flint, also turned himself in to the police, accompanied by his attorney. Smith faced the same charges as Davis: open murder, conspiracy to commit murder, assault with intent to commit murder, and a felony firearm charge. Both men were held without bond in the Genesee County Jail. Prosecutors indicated that other suspects were being sought in connection with the fatal shooting.
