Thomas Lee Stewart Sr., 73, was found dead inside his Muskegon home on December 1, 2025. First responders arrived at the residence in the 1400 block of Jiroch Street around 9:30 a.m. after reports of a male with a gunshot wound; Stewart had suffered a single gunshot to the upper body. Investigators treated the scene as a homicide and noted signs suggesting a robbery, including pockets turned inside out.

Known affectionately as Uncle Tommy or Tnotch, Stewart was a longtime neighborhood fixture celebrated for his style, brimmed hats and suits, and for performing in his youth with the singing group the Honey Waves. Detectives developed leads that led to a traffic stop on December 8, 2025. Two juvenile males fled; both were taken into custody. Prosecutors charged a 16-year-old with open murder and said he was being tried as an adult, alleging the teen was let into Stewart’s home and shot him during an attempted robbery. A 17-year-old was charged with firearm possession and was not being charged in the homicide at that time.

Are there details about Stewart’s routine or visitors that anyone in the neighborhood can share?