Melvin Lamar Totten, 29, was shot in the head inside an apartment at Trinity Village on Valley Street in Muskegon on the night of February 12, 2018. Police found him unresponsive shortly before 11 p.m.; he was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries. Investigators say the shooting occurred during a planned robbery aimed at stealing marijuana and a firearm.

Authorities identified several people in connection with the case. Two men were charged in November 2018: 18-year-old Antawan Dawan-Meshawn Beasley and 21-year-old Romelo Oshon Austin, both facing open murder charges. Beasley also faced counts related to a stolen firearm and possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle. Another 18-year-old, Theretius Adrain Greenberry, pleaded guilty to a felony firearm charge. Romelo Austin was later convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced on January 15, 2020; Austin was also convicted of lying to police and received a minimum 16-month term.

Known as Lamar to family and friends, Melvin was described as a funny and devoted father whose death deeply affected his parents, sister, son and extended family. Did anyone in Muskegon have information about Lamar’s life or the night he was killed?