Daquan L. Mims

Daquan L. Mims, a 25-year-old Black man known affectionately to his loved ones as "Juug" and "Our Gentle Giant," was a devoted family man whose life was centered around his wife and children. He had attended Saginaw High School and was an employee at Bay Area Forklift. Family was paramount to Daquan; he was married to his wife, Alexia, and was a loving father to seven children. Those who knew him best remembered a kind man with a great sense of humor who had a gift for making people laugh. His interests included fishing, boxing, and trying his luck at the casino, but his greatest joy was simply spending time with his wife and kids.

The life of this young husband and father was violently taken in the early hours of Father's Day, June 16, 2024, in Saginaw, Michigan. The night began with crowds gathering in the city's Old Town district, a historic area known for its nightlife. Shortly before 2 a.m., as local bars were closing, the scene on North Hamilton Street grew large and disorderly. Two Saginaw police officers were already in the 100 block of South Hamilton Street responding to reports of the disturbance when they heard the distinct sound of gunfire erupting just a short distance away.

The officers rushed toward the sound of the shots, which came from the 100 block of North Hamilton in front of the West Side Party Store. They discovered a chaotic scene as people scattered in every direction. Amid the turmoil, they found Daquan Mims on the ground, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Dozens of people had been in the immediate vicinity when the shooting occurred. Daquan had been shot 11 times. A second man, later identified as Daquan's brother, was also wounded in the attack, though his injuries were described as minor. Emergency services were dispatched, and Daquan was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries were catastrophic. He was pronounced dead, marking the city of Saginaw's 10th homicide of 2024.

The Saginaw Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation. Detectives worked to piece together the events of that chaotic morning, speaking with witnesses and analyzing surveillance footage from the area. The video evidence proved crucial, allowing investigators to develop a description of the individual responsible for the gunfire. Three months later, on September 24, 2024, the department publicly identified 26-year-old Shavar Craft Jr. as the suspect in Daquan's murder and issued a warrant for his arrest. Police asked for the public's help in locating him, and Crime Stoppers offered a reward for information.

After a months-long search, authorities located and arrested Shavar Craft in December 2024. He was charged in connection with the shooting that killed Daquan Mims and injured his brother. The case proceeded through the Saginaw County court system, culminating in a jury trial. In July 2026, the jury found Craft guilty on all six felony counts he faced, including first-degree premeditated murder, assault with intent to murder, and three counts of felony firearm.

On September 10, 2026, Shavar Craft Jr. appeared in court for his sentencing. For the murder of Daquan Mims, the judge sentenced him to the mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole. This sentence brought a legal conclusion to a case that had devastated a family and shaken the community. While the court proceedings have ended, the profound loss of Daquan Mims continues to be deeply felt by his wife, his seven children, and all who knew and loved the man they called their gentle giant.