Wednesday night’s armed robbery attack outside of the Briarwood Apartment complex in Benton Township has resulted in one of the “victims” of the confrontation being arrested and taken into custody on multiple charges including felony murder.
While 18-year old James Parker-Hersey originally told police that he heard gunfire and later discovered that he had been shot himself, Benton Township Police Detective Lt. Michael DenDooven says the investigation led to Parker-Hersey himself as one of the perpetrators of the armed robbery and ultimately the murder of 20-year old Miquan Davis of Benton Township.
DenDooven says his department obtained an arrest warrant, and James Parker-Hersey subsequently was taken into custody without incident on charges of felony murder, armed robbery, and felony firearms.
Parker-Hersey had been operated on at Spectrum Health Lakeland for a gunshot wound to his left hip and was later arrested. DenDooven says his department is seeking other subjects involved in the armed robbery which took place shortly before midnight on Wednesday at 1885 Union Avenue outside of the Briarwood Apartment complex there.
As reported earlier here, DenDooven says that at 11:38pm Wednesday night his department was dispatched to the Briarwood complex regarding a shooting. Upon arrival, Police found 18 year old James Parker-Hersey of Benton Harbor suffering from a gunshot wound to his left hip. Medic 1 arrived on the scene and began treating him before taking him to Spectrum Health Lakeland where he was admitted into surgery.
DenDooven says that 20-year old Miquan Davis of Benton Township was a passenger in a vehicle at the scene who had been shot in the chest, and subsequently taken to Spectrum Health Lakeland by the driver of that vehicle. Hospital officials administered life-saving measures which were eventually exhausted and Davis was pronounced dead at the emergency room.
DenDooven says witnesses to the events said it was an armed robbery, resulting in several gunshots being fired, and they say the shooters ran from the robbery on foot to a black, 4-door sedan waiting on Union, and then drove into the night. The two were described as a man wearing a gray hoodie, armed with a long gun and another wearing all black clothing with an unknown weapon who escaped in the sedan.
Parker-Hersey originally told investigators he was standing outside, heard gunfire and then realized he had been shot in the hip.
The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department Evidence Technician Unit assisted Benton Township Police in processing the crime scene, and the Benton Township Police are asking that anyone with information contact the Benton Township Police Department Detective Bureau (269) 925-1135 or Crime Stoppers (574) 288-STOP at their earliest opportunity.
