On the evening of August 17, 2019, 16-year-old Zamarian Cooper was at a birthday party in Muskegon, Michigan, when a dispute erupted and gunfire broke out. Cooper shielded his younger sister and urged her to safety; she escaped unharmed but Zamarian was struck and later died at a local hospital.

Zamarian was a Muskegon High School student, a saxophone player who had earned a college scholarship for music, and a wrestler described by his family as kind and never in trouble with the law. Police initially reported possible involvement of multiple shooters. An arrest was later made: T.J. Purnell was charged in connection with the killing, pleaded no contest in September 2021, and received a 13 to 70 year sentence.

The conviction provided some resolution for the family, but earlier references to other potential suspects remain an unresolved detail. If anyone has information about that night or knows more about Zamarian, please share what can help complete the picture.