The older brother of a Muskegon High School student who was accidentally shot outside a Muskegon Township bowling alley has been charged with his younger brother’s death.
Prosecutors on Wednesday charged Dareese Hewlett Jr., 18, with manslaughter for the unintentional death of 15-year-old Davion Hewlett. He is also facing charges of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon and resisting and obstructing a police officer.
Officers found Davion suffering from a single gunshot wound on Monday just before 7 p.m. outside Northway Lanes on Evanston Avenue. The teen was apparently shot inside a vehicle and climbed out before he collapsed, according to police.
Another person who was in the car, 19-year-old Antwan Crawford, is not being charged in connection to Davion’s death. However, he is facing an unrelated charge of unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm. He was jailed on a $20,000 bond.
Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson and Hewlett’s defense attorney Chris Houghtaling agree that the incident should never have happened.
“When you’re dealing with young people and guns, its a mixture for disaster,” Hilson told 24 Hour News 8 after Hewlett Jr.’s arraignment.
“I cannot stress enough how horrible it is to have a gun,” Houghtaling said. “There is no reason for these kids to have firearms… But for there being a gun involved, none of us would be here.”
Hilson said the manslaughter charge that could send Hewlett Jr. to prison for years was appropriate given the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“I’m sorry that he made the bad decision, the bad choice to obtain this handgun illegally,” Hilson said. “To have it in his possession and then flail it around like it was some sort of status symbol. I’m sorry he made that bad decision.”
Hewlett Jr. had no criminal history and was set to graduate high school. He said he had planned to attend Muskegon Community College.
Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes decided to allow Hewlett Jr. to attend his brother’s funeral if he couldn’t post his $40,000 bond. Hoopes said Hewlett could be released for several hours for the funeral but only of the family paid for a sheriff’s deputy to accompany him.
On Wednesday night, jail records showed Hewlett Jr. was no longer in custody.
Both Hewlett Jr. and and Crawford are scheduled for probable cause hearings on May 11 in Muskegon District Court, followed by preliminary examinations on May 17.