John Conyers, a 30-year-old Black man who had lived in Benton Harbor about six months, was shot during an altercation on April 7, 2017. The confrontation began during what is described as an illicit sale of pills in the Salvation Army parking lot on Michigan Avenue. Conyers was struck twice in the torso; officers arriving around 7:50 p.m. found him in serious condition and he was taken to Lakeland Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

Multiple agencies investigated the homicide, and on December 1, 2017, Willie Deandre Hassel, 20, was arrested and charged with open murder. Hassel also faced charges of carrying a concealed weapon, conspiracy to deliver a schedule IV controlled substance, and felony firearm, with bail set at $700,000; the prosecutor noted the charges are accusations.

Does anyone have information about Conyers’ activities in Benton Harbor or the parking lot incident that could help clarify what happened that evening?