Story by News Editor Ellie Youngs

On Wednesday, January 25, at roughly 12:35 a.m, 16-year-old Cahari Maurice Walton was found dead near Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital. Police said the former Ottawa Hills High School student was found bleeding from the head, and he was pronounced dead despite CPR performed by the officers who arrived at the scene. Walton was then transferred to Blodgett Hospital.  

The police are still investigating whether or not Walton’s death is related to a prior “shots fired” call in Grand Rapids, and it was confirmed that officers responded to a report of shots fired near Cass Avenue SE and Martin Luther King Jr. St. just after midnight on January 25. 

Walton’s family and members of the community have also spoken on the impact of Walton’s presence. Jaaun Kenney, Walton’s former football coach, described how Walton was “a kid full of laughs, would smile. He was always energetic. Just always the helpful kid.” Kenney was Walton’s coach since he was eight years old. 

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this young man’s life and are working diligently to investigate his death so we can provide answers to his family,” said Det. Sgt. Scott Kolster. “We are asking anyone with information about this incident to reach out to our Public Safety Department or Silent Observer to help us find those responsible and bring them to justice.” 

Residents of the neighborhood as well as other community members are now pushing even harder for cameras to be put up in that area due to a high frequency of incidents occurring. 

Anyone with any information about Walton’s death can contact East Grand Rapids Public Safety at 616-949-7010 or contact Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or to silentobserver.org