A 16-year-old boy in Michigan faces adult charges for the fatal shooting of a 73-year-old man during a home robbery. Authorities say the suspect texted a friend shortly after the incident, describing watching the victim gasp his last breath. The case involves surveillance footage, a confession, and charges against a second teenager.
On December 1, 2025, around 9:30 a.m., police in Muskegon, Michigan, responded to a shooting report at a residence in the 1400 block of Jiroch Street, about 200 miles northwest of Detroit. They found 73-year-old Thomas Stewart inside with a gunshot wound to his upper body; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Stewart's wallet lay next to his body, and his pockets had been turned out, indicating a robbery.
Kemaree Davis, then 16, was arrested a week later and charged as an adult with open murder and armed robbery. Police believe Davis knew Stewart and entered the home to rob him. Muskegon Public Safety Director Tim Kozal stated during a December briefing: "I do believe Mr. Stewart knew a lot of people in his neighborhood, was friendly with a lot of people in his neighborhood, was helpful to a lot of people, so we don't know what the nexus actually was. From our investigation we believe those were the only two individuals inside the house. We believe that the intent of the individual that was there with Mr. Stewart was to rob him."
Evidence includes text messages Davis sent about an hour after the shooting to a 17-year-old accomplice, who faces a weapons possession charge: "The old man is dead. Bro, I watched him gasp his last breath." Surveillance footage shows the pair meeting outside Muskegon High School that morning and heading toward Stewart's home.
In a post-arrest interview, Davis confessed that Stewart spotted him inside, gave him $20, and the gun "went off" during the robbery; Davis then took another $20 from the wallet. During Davis's preliminary examination on Thursday, the 17-year-old testified, offering a conflicting account, claiming no memory of the meeting or linked social media accounts. He was subsequently arrested for perjury.
Prosecutors cite witness testimony, texts, and investigative findings linking Davis to the crime.
