BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Two teens involved in a fatal drive-by shooting in Battle Creek a week ago that killed a 2-year-old boy were formally arraigned on open murder and weapons charges on Monday, September 26.
According to the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office, 18-year-old Martavon Nelson and 17-year-old Jaylen Smith are both facing seven charges including one count of open murder and felony firearms. Smith, who is a juvenile, is being charged as an adult.
Jail records indicate the third suspect, an 18-year-old, is currently being held in the Calhoun County Jail awaiting arraignment.
2-year-old Kai Turner was shot once while asleep after at least ten shots were fired into the home in the 100 block of Cliff Street around 2:20. Turner passed away hours later at the hospital.
Authorities say the gunfire came from at least three guns from a stolen black Audi Q7, which was found hours later in the area of Wagner Drive. All three suspects were arrested last week on Thursday, two in Battle Creek, and one in Detroit.
During questioning, Nelson told detectives they went to the Cliff Street address because they thought is was the home of someone he was having an issue with for months.
2-year-old Turner was the only victim, though, not the shooter’s intended target. He was laid to rest following a funeral service at the Ridgeview Memorial Gardens in Grandville on Saturday.
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