Shondel Solomon Newell, 43 and a resident of Covert, Michigan, was shot and killed on July 8, 2021, in South Haven. He was found inside a vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds; emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Newell was Black.

Authorities identified persons of interest quickly after the shooting. One of those named was 23-year-old Tiah Deshon-Juanita Sutton of South Haven; a person of interest and a suspect vehicle were located shortly after the incident while Sutton remained at large until she was later apprehended and charged with Newell’s murder.

At trial Sutton admitted to shooting Newell but asserted she acted in self-defense, saying he had threatened her. The prosecution maintained Newell was unarmed and that the evidence did not support self-defense. Eyewitness testimony and other evidence were presented; a jury convicted Sutton of second-degree murder and related firearm charges, and she received a lengthy prison sentence.

If anyone knew Shondel, his movements that day, or has information about the events leading up to the shooting, please come forward.