2 Men From Michigan Shoot Up Church For Denying Them Access

[Walter Cronkite]

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One young man is already serving jail time and another is awaiting sentencing in the shooting of a Kentwood youth pastor in early January. On May 22, Devontae Collier was sentenced to eight months in the Kent County Jail and Jaylen Woods reached a deal with prosecutors on May 18 for their roles in the shooting of MarShon Peoples on January 7 at the Community Center on 60th Street SE in Gaines Township. Peoples was throwing a party for a "Streams of Hope" program participant when eight uninvited guests showed up. He told 24 Hour News 8 the youths were persistent -- but so was he. The young men grew angrier and Peoples prepared to call 911. "I pushed send and then that's when 'boom' happened," said Peoples. The young men had opened fire, police said. Peoples took a bullet to the head. About 150 people were inside. People nearby told 24 Hour News 8 they heard about 25 gunshots.

A source told 24 Hour News 8 Collier fired a gun outside the center. In April, Collier pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder and to carrying a concealed weapon. He's expected to be released from jail Jan. 30, 2013. Woods, who court records revealed fired the gun that hit Peoples in the head, faced a number of felonies in the case. A source said he was inside the center at the time the shots were fired. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 11, 2012. The Kent County Major Crimes Task Force worked together to identify the suspects.

Police sources told 24 Hour News 8 they are looking for two more suspects, and when release more information when they are in custody. In an interview with 24 Hour News 8 a week after being shot, Peoples said he doesn't harbor hard feelings toward the young men who opened fire. "I'm not angry at the young men. I'm more angry at the choice," said Peoples. "They need help and we as a whole have to help them." Peoples said he doesn't want the young men to go to jail. "Putting them into a cell with other misguided people is not the answer," he said at that time.