The recent murder of Nathaniel Lee outside of an apartment at the River Terrace complex in Benton Harbor is growing more spectacular by the day. Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic says today that two more men have been arrested and charged in Lee’s death on August 15th, bringing to four the men involved in the murder case which continues to come under police scrutiny.
Sepic announced this afternoon that now 21 year old Shuantae Hill, Jr., and 23 year old Denzeil Dade, both of Benton Harbor, are charged with Felony-Murder, Armed Robbery and Felony Fire-arm in the case that already had two men behind bars earlier last week.
Felony-Murder carries a penalty of Life without Parole and Armed Robbery, Life or any term of years. Felony Firearm carries a penalty of a 2 year mandatory sentence consecutive to any other charge. Sepic says, “Hill is charged with an additional count of Intimidating a Witness, a 10 year felony.”
At Hill’s arraignment on August 24, bond was set at $1,000,000.00 cash or surety with GPS monitoring. His pre-exam conference is set for this Friday, September 1, 2017 and his preliminary examination hearing for September 7, both at 8:30 in Berrien County’s Trial Court in St. Joseph
At Dade’s arraignment today, bond was also set at $1,000,000.00 cash or surety with GPS monitoring. His pre-exam conference is also set for this Friday, September 1, 2017 and his preliminary examination hearing for September 7, both at 8:30 in the same courtroom.
Hill is also facing charges of Attempted Home Invasion 1st degree, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Felony Firearm from an incident alleged to have occurred on June 18, 2017 in Benton Township. Bond in that case is set at $50,000 cash or surety tether bond. That case is scheduled for a pre-exam conference on Friday, September 1, 2017 and a preliminary examination hearing for September 7, both at 8:30 in Berrien County Trial Court.
Sepic reminds that all charges are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Hill and Dade join 19 year old Davion Turner of Conyers, Georgia…the first to be arrested in the case, and later 21 year old Antonio Hall of Benton Harbor, with both men being held in the Berrien County jail on multiple charges.
Turner has been charged with open murder and felony firearm in connection with the shooting death of 32 year old Nathaniel Lee of Benton Harbor. Turner has been identified as the shooter in the incident at Benton Harbor’s River Terrace housing complex at 11:45 Tuesday night, August 15th. Lee was sitting in a parked vehicle with another when he was shot twice by Turner in what may have been a robbery. It is believed Turner was here from Georgia visiting his father in Benton Harbor. Police developed Turner as a suspect quickly resulting in Turner turning himself in to police two days later.
At Turner’s arraignment on open murder and felony firearm charges, bond was set at $1,000,000.00 cash or surety with GPS monitoring. His pre-exam conference was held on August 25th, and his preliminary examination hearing is set for this Thursday, August 31st, at 8:30 in Berrien County Trial court.
Open murder includes options of 1st and 2nd degree murder, the penalty being life without parole, and life or any term of years, respectively. Felony firearm carries a penalty of a 2 year mandatory sentence consecutive to any other charge.
The investigation is being conducted by the Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety with assistance from Michigan State Police Major Crimes Unit, FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department.
Antonio Hall, of Benton Harbor, was later charged with felony-murder, armed robbery and felony firearm in connection with the shooting death of Lee. It’s alleged Hall and Davion Turner, conspired with the two others to rob Lee. During the course of the robbery, Lee was shot twice and died from his gunshot wounds.
At Hall’s arraignment last week on felony-murder, armed robbery and felony firearm, bond was set at $1,000,000.00 cash or surety with GPS monitoring. His pre-exam conference is set for this Friday, September 1, 2017 and his preliminary examination hearing for September 7, both at 8:30 in Berrien County Trial court.
At the time of Turner’s preliminary examination scheduled for this Thursday, the prosecutor will be seeking to amend Turner’s charges to include felony-murder and armed robbery.
As indicated, the murder at River Terrace, the second in three months, remains under investigation.
