by Tylor Brummett | News Channel 3 — The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) is urging gun owners to make sure their firearms are stored properly after a 3-year-old accidently shot herself Saturday night which was legally owned by the girl's parents was pulled out of the center console of a vehicle while the girl was alone inside it with a sibling Cpt. Danielle Guilds tells News Channel 3 that this is another reminder of why Michigan has safe storage laws. "It could have been so much worse," Guilds said "We are thankful that it wasn't worse." The girl was taken to the hospital by her parents in "critical but stable condition," KDPS said The shooting happened on East Vine Street near Portage Street Guilds told News Channel 3 there are items to properly store your guns kids are curious about firearms and you can teach your child so much but at the same it's your responsibility as an owner to make sure that it is being secured." Kalamazoo Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting told News Channel 3 that his office takes incidents like this seriously for everybody else's sake," Getting said There's no reason for someone to leave their gun in the center console of their car unsecured." and the Getting said the prosecutor's office hasn't received the case from police to file formal charges Loy Norrix junior Jackson Lam competes in the Don Lukens Invitational at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo during the 2025 track season.Matthew Ehler | MLive.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matthew Ehler | mehler@mlive.comKALAMAZOO but we’re less than a month away from Michigan’s boys high school track and field state finals the top athletes are rounding into peak form The Kalamazoo-area features a profusion of top talents including defending state champions in Kalamazoo Central’s Jeremy Dixon (100-meter dash) Lawton’s Mason Mayne (discus) and Kalamazoo Hackett’s Marek Butkiewicz (3,200-meter run) athletes can qualify for the state meet by achieving qualifying standards at valid pre-qualified meets That change comes from variations in weather and conditions that can have an impact on times and distances at regional meets Those early-qualifying standards have been set based on a three-year average of the sixth-place finish at the state finals in each division athletes can still qualify for the state meet by placing top two at regionals or by achieving state-qualifying marks at regionals Check below to see where all the top Kalamazoo-area athletes stand with just weeks left until the state meet Early qualifier - D1: 10.95 | D2: 11.00| D3: 11.10 | D4: 11.35 Early qualifier - D1: 22.20 | D2: 22.60 | D3: 22.80 | D4: 23.20 Early qualifier - D1: 49.00 | D2: 50.30 | D3: 51.00 | D4: 51.80 Early qualifier - D1: 1:54.00 | D2: 1:57.00 | D3: 1:59.30 | D4: 2:01.00 Early qualifier - D1: 4:14.00 | D2: 4:18.00 | D3: 4:24.00 | D4: 4:30.00 Early qualifier - D1: 9:14.00 | D2: 9:25.00 | D3: 9:43.00 | D4: 10:00.00 Early qualifier - D1: 14.80 | D2: 15.30 | D3: 15.40 | D4: 16.00 Early qualifier - D1: 39.20 | D2: 40.30 | D3: 41.20 | D4: 42.00 Early qualifier - D1: 42.50 | D2: 43.40 | D3: 44.10 | D4: 45.10 Early qualifier - D1: 1:28.50 | D2: 1:30.50 | D3: 1:32.00 | D4: 1:33.30 Early qualifier - D1: 3:22.50 | D2: 3:28.00 | D3: 3:30.30 | D4: 3:36.00 Early qualifier - D1: 7:53.00 | D2: 8:01.00 | D3: 8:17.20 | D4: 8:25.00 Early qualifier - D1: 53′2 | D2: 51′0 | D3: 50’9 | D4: 47′ 0 Early qualifier - D1: 156′0 | D2: 156′0 | D3: 149’3 | D4: 139’2 Early qualifier - D1: 6′5 | D2: 6′4 | D3: 6′3 | D4: 6′2 Early qualifier - D1: 14′6 | D2: 13′6 | D3: 13′3 | D4: 12′6 Early qualifier - D1: 21′10 | D2: 21′3 | D3: 21′0 | D4: 20’11 Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices — A 3-year-old girl is in critical condition after accidentally shooting herself with her parent's gun that was left in the car with her Saturday on East Vine Street near Portage Street in Kalamazoo according to the department of public safety The girl and a sibling were left alone in the parked car with the gun stored in the center console the 3-year-old was able to get a hold of the gun and pull the trigger The parents rushed the girl to the hospital which investigators say is owned by a registered CPL holder The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety says this situation is a reminder for all gun owners to lock up their firearms Michigan enacted a series of safe storage laws requiring firearms to be put away in a manner to prevent others “While we are relieved to hear the child is on the path to recovery this incident could have ended far worse,” said Captain Danielle Guilds of the Criminal Investigations Division “We urge all firearm owners to take every precaution to ensure their weapons are properly secured and inaccessible to children.” A gun owner charged under Michigan's safe storage laws could face up to 15 years in prison when a child uses the gun to seriously injure themselves or someone else Follow FOX 17: Facebook - X (formerly Twitter) - Instagram - YouTube — A new arts festival is on the way to Kalamazoo the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo held a press conference announcing "Brush the Block," an inaugural mural festival coming to the city in September “We thought that having the press conference during Art Hop was fitting as the mural festival has the same goals as Art Hop – to bring us together through creative expression and celebrate as a community,” Kristen Chesak the conference featured a mural painting demonstration using a portable graffiti wall The event also including remarks from City of Kalamazoo building owners participating in the festival it's time to celebrate the city's existing murals The City of Kalamazoo is such a vibrant place to live and work,” Kik said “What better way than to invite the community to a festival that celebrates murals and leaves eight new lasting pieces of our creativity on our public walls for all to enjoy for many years to come.” Brush the Block is scheduled to run from September 2-7 according to the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo in a post on Facebook Portage Central's Avery Scott competes in the Don Lukens Invitational at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo but we’re less than a month away from Michigan’s girls high school track and field state finals including defending state champions in Sturgis’ Keyanna O’Tey (100-meter dash) and Kalamazoo Christian’s Elli VanDusen (100-meter hurdles) Early qualifier - D1: 12.40 | D2: 12.60 | D3: 12.80 | D4: 13.00 Early qualifier - D1: 25.40 | D2: 26.10 | D3: 26.60 | D4: 27.00 Early qualifier - D1: 57.00 | D2: 59.00 | D3: 59.40 | D4: 1:01.50 Early qualifier - D1: 2:14.00 | D2: 2:19.00 | D3: 2:19.40 | D4: 2:25.00 Early qualifier - D1: 4:52.00 | D2: 5:02.70 | D3: 5:08.00 | D4: 5:21.00 Early qualifier - D1: 10:40.00 | D2: 11:06.00 | D3: 11:18.00 | D4: 11:29.00 Early qualifier - D1: 15.00 | D2: 16.00 | D3: 16.20 | D4: 16.60 Early qualifier - D1: 45.10 | D2: 47.40 | D3: 47.80 | D4: 48.50 Early qualifier - D1: 49.00 | D2: 50.30 | D3: 51.00 | D4: 53.40 Early qualifier - D1: 1:44.50 | D2: 1:46.00 | D3: 1:48.90 | D4: 1:50.50 Early qualifier - D1: 3:59.50 | D2: 4:09.00 | D3: 4:14.40 | D4: 4:18.00 Early qualifier - D1: 9:22.00 | D2: 9:43.00 | D3: 9:55.90 | D4: 10:15.00 Early qualifier - D1: 39’6 | D2: 38’0 | D3: 36’8 | D4: 35’7 Early qualifier - D1: 123’6 | D2: 120’0 | D3: 114’1 | D4: 110’0 Early qualifier - D1: 5’4 | D2: 5’2 | D3: 5’2 | D4: 5’1 Early qualifier - D1: 11’6 | D2: 10’6 | D3: 9’9 | D4: 9’0 Early qualifier - D1: 17’5 | D2: 16’10 | D3: 16’4 | D4: 16’2 — The Kalamazoo Farmer's Market officially returned for the 2025 season on Saturday Roughly 135 vendors participated in the first day of the market which offers fresh food and handmade goods from local growers and makers With so many local vendors selling their wares the market produces a strong sense of community patrons look forward to all year long I know that so many people look forward to this every year [It] kind of just builds up over the winter When's the market open?' And so finally it's here," said Katelyn Bekken-Simpson The market will be open every Saturday through October from 7 a.m A mini weekday market will also be available every Tuesday and Thursday from June 3 through Oct with special Thursday night market events on June 19 as well as food assistance currencies like EBT/SNAP and Double Up Food Bucks More information on the market, including purchasing food, events and more, can be found on their website here. READ MORESuspect arrested for weapons and gun charges in Kalamazooby Donny Ede | News Channel 3 — A suspect was arrested for gun possession and drug charges in Kalamazoo after an investigation law enforcement including the Kalamazoo Valley Enforcement Team (KVET) and Crime Reduction Team (CRT) executed a search warrant on Newells Lane in Portage following an investigation into drug sales and illegal weapon possession a suspect was contacted and detained without incident on Lake Street in Kalamazoo evidence of drug manufacturing and distribution one of which was a "Tec-9," two rifles One firearm had an obliterated serial number The 35-year-old male suspect has been previously convicted of felony charges and cannot legally possess a firearm or ammunition He was arrested and lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail and will be facing multiple felony charges Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact KVET at (269) 337-8880 — Hundreds of kids gathered in Kalamazoo on Saturday for the PNC Kids' 1k Held just a day before the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon the PNC Kids' 1k is intended for kids 12 and under I feel good about myself because I think I did a nice job," said Leah Deming Each participant received a free t-shirt and a finisher medal upon completion of the race The Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon takes place Sunday More information on the events can be found here News Channel 3 is a proud sponsor of the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon — A 3-year-old is in "critical but stable" condition after accidently shooting herself with her parent's gun While alone with her sibling in a vehicle parked on East Vine Street near Portage Street Saturday around 9:01 p.m. a 3-year-old girl accessed a gun "legally owned by a CPL holder" stored in the vehicle's center console and accidentally shot herself according to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) officials The girl was taken to the hospital by her parents where she is in "critical but stable" condition and expected to recover this incident could have ended far worse,” Danielle Guilds Captain of the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division the case is under active investigation by KDPS and both the gun and vehicle have been secured for further investigation Michigan’s Safe Storage Law requires gun owners to securely store firearms in a locked container or with a locking device especially in homes and vehicles where minors are present "Compliance with this law is not only a legal obligation—it is essential to protect children and prevent avoidable tragedies," KDPS officials said 1/29Gull Lake takes on the Portage Central in girls soccer.st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Matthew Ehler | mehler@mlive.comKALAMAZOO MI –– There’s a new team taking over the throne of Southwest Michigan’s latest girls soccer rankings has soared to the top spot thanks to key victories over state-ranked opponents The Blue Devils are hitting their stride with a month left in the regular season Loy Norrix and Kalamazoo Hackett are picking up steam as well That means it’s time to unveil the latest set of Kalamazoo-area power rankings Gull Lake has roared back to pick up victories over some of the best competition in Southwest Michigan –– all highlighted by Monday’s upset over Division 1 state-ranked Portage Central The Blue Devils used a first half goal from Ali Bates and locked down the Mustangs’ offense in the second half as junior goalkeeper Bella Carr made several key saves Gull Lake has now won five of its last six games shutting out four of its opponents along the way as it most recently beat St on Wednesday thanks to goals from Madie Smith and Ali Bates With a starting lineup that features two freshman and three sophomores Gull Lake might be a bit ahead of schedule –– but its proving its medal by claiming the top spot in the SMAC race Otsego kept its undefeated regular season alive thanks to Wednesday’s major 3-1 victory over Plainwell –– the Bulldogs first victory over the Trojans in five years Alexis Gross and Grace Gerst all found the score sheet as Johnson scored in the first few minutes of the game and Gross scored with less than a minute before halftime to give the Bulldogs momentum With mix of eight seniors and eight sophomores on the roster Otsego has stepped up to become the most fearsome team in the Wolverine Conference –– and a state-ranked squad in Division 2 Now with victories over Kalamazoo Christian the Bulldogs look primed to not just earn a conference title but perhaps contend for a district title in a pairing that features Plainwell and Gull Lake Loy Norrix picked up a huge win over Division 2 No extending its winning streak to three straight games The Knights have now shutout five of their last six opponents and stand in sole second place in the SMAC standings –– just a tie behind first place Gull Lake The Blue Devils handed Loy Norrix its only loss of the season last week but the Knights’ latest win over the Lancers proves their legitimacy as a Southwest Michigan contender along with junior star and IU Indianapolis commit Madeline Chappa Loy Norrix has plenty of experience and firepower to not just contend for the SMAC Tournament title but also make a run at a district championship Kalamazoo Hackett has won five of its past six games including all five victories as shutouts followed by shutout wins over Holland Black River Star senior forward Addison Smucker is back after scoring a team-high 25 goals with 12 assists last season while sophomore forward Brie Siems is also another scoring bunch (8 goals Hackett is in the middle of the SAC-Valley conference race but a big month of May could push them to the top They’ll play Kalamazoo Central and Byron Center Zion Christian before ending the regular season with conference games against Lawton The Eagles have won three straight and three of their last four Schoolcraft is led by the scoring prowess of sophomore forward Rowan Talcott who scored a team-high 37 goals and added 24 assists en route to accounting for nearly half of Schoolcraft’s 77 goals in 2024 Junior Addison Sziede is also another scoring option after notching 18 goals with 12 assists last season Schoolcraft will embark upon a competitive month of May which starts with a showdown with Division 4 state-ranked Kalamazoo Christian next week defeated Battle Creek Calhoun Christian (9-1) This week: Defeated Kalamazoo Hackett (4-1) This week: Defeated Kalamazoo Central (2-0) This week: Defeated Battle Creek Central (1-0) Below are News Channel 3's top stories for the previous week President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Michigan Tuesday evening to celebrate the first 100 days of his second term in office The president gave his remarks at at Macomb Community College in Warren The region about 20 miles north of Detroit is known as the automotive hub Thousands in Portage gather to protest Trump policies in May Day National Day of Action Thousands of protestors lined South Westnedge Avenue in Portage on Saturday for the May Day National Day of Action the protests were a rally for workers' rights and community action Family shares statement, funeral arrangements after baby killed in Allegan County crash The parents of an 8-month-old baby girl who died in an Allegan County crash have issued a statement following an outpouring of support from their community a 56-year-old Martin man was driving west on Baseline Road near Hillsdale Drive at a high rate of speed when he sideswiped an eastbound car and lost control according to the Allegan County Sheriff's Office PHOTOS: Vandals damage about $100K of equipment at Kalamazoo preserve A huge improvement project at the "Bow in the Clouds Preserve" that was about to begin is now halted contractors with the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy are left with about $100,000 in damaged equipment after vandals struck Friday night Michigan State Police cruiser strikes pedestrian in Grand Rapids A pedestrian was struck by a Michigan State Police cruiser Friday morning a pedestrian was struck at the corner of Ottawa and Lyons in Grand Rapids Family of Portage murder victims speaks out against Supreme Court resentencing ruling A bereaved Southwest Michigan family is speaking out after the Michigan Supreme Court's rulings to mandate resentencing of all individuals convicted of murder at ages 18 who were previously sentenced to life without the possibility of parole William and Mildred Witters were brutally murdered inside of their Portage home near Sugarloaf Lake on April 25 Teen charged in fatal Kalamazoo shooting, marking fourth homicide of 2025 A 19-year-old has been arraigned in the deadly shooting of 21-year-old Marktavion Perry-Bennett of Kalamazoo Lamone Demetrius Hickman was charged Monday with open murder one count of felony firearm and one count of carrying a concealed weapon Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot after domestic assault incident in Newton Township A man is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a domestic assault in Newton Township on Saturday Michigan State Police troopers responded to a domestic assault complaint on 6 Mile Road We will be golfing on Gull Lake View East former K athletes and friends of the College at Gull Lake View East for a fun-filled 18 holes of golf all while supporting K athletics After you and your team complete your 18 rounds meet us back at the clubhouse for a buffet meal award ceremony and remarks from the College Pricing: Individual golfer ($125) and foursome team ($425) Please register by Monday June 9 as either an individual golfer ($125) or your foursome team ($425) We will be golfing on Gull Lake View East Hornet Golf Jamboree Questions? Please contact Kayleigh Morris at alumni@kzoo.edu or 269.337.7283 The Hornet Golf Jamboree benefits Kalamazoo College’s Hornet Athletic Association the charitable giving program of Hornet Athletics Designed to provide unrestricted support for the evolving needs of the athletics department and its 18 intercollegiate athletic programs gifts to this fund have an immediate impact—enhancing the student-athlete experience and contributing to the ongoing success of our teams Did you know you can show your support on the course? Simply add a hole sponsorship to your golfer registration Your sponsorship helps ensure Kalamazoo College student-athletes have the resources they need to succeed directly impacting their experience and success Interested in other sponsorship opportunities For questions about sponsorship opportunities—in-kind or otherwise—please reach out to Maria Newhouse at athleticsponsorships@kzoo.edu or 269.337.7297 to discuss your options The IRS charitable value of sponsorships is determined by reducing the contribution amount by the fair market value of goods and/or services received To receive the full IRS charitable value of the contribution donors may decline listed goods and/or services Want to know which of your fellow Hornets will be joining us we will keep a running list of all registered attendees and teams Stephen Gallas ’78Al Taracuk ’78 Don Pobuda ’78Rusty Meska ’78 Kelli DuimstraEmily Vanfleet Ashley AblesElizabeth Schlagel Jeanne HessJim HessColleen Leonard ’12 David Leonard ’71 Alumni Directory by Mackenize Dekker | News Channel 3 — A huge improvement project at the "Bow in the Clouds Preserve" that was about to begin is now halted words like "save trees," "nature is always open" and "love Mother Earth" were sprayed onto multiple machines they were thinking we were out trying to hurt the environment versus really trying to help the environment," Mike Larson president and executive director with Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy those responsible for the vandalism appear to be showing their anger for the machinery being on the preserve - fearing for its destruction it's the complete opposite of what the vandals were thinking Equipment was actually there to carry out a huge improvement project for the preserve - aimed at updating trails and providing more access to the community “We've got trails that need to be repaired and we want more people with disabilities to have access to these trails," Larson said "It has completely delayed the project." the vandalism has created extra costs for the land conservancy a non-profit organization relying on donations and grants to carry out their mission "We are 100% committed to protecting properties," Larson said "Sometimes when you see equipment like that But we need that equipment to be able to do what we need to take care of the property." an environmentally conscious excavating company with a decade of experience working with the conservancy says they've been blessed by the outpouring of community support following the vandalism Both Generation III Excavating and Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy are working with the police although the vandalism has derailed the project for now but tells News Channel 3 we can still expect improvements to be made — Runners are set to lace up their shoes as the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon returns to the city on Sunday If you're participating or supporting a runner in this year's event here is everything you need to know ahead of the weekend marathon: Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon offers events for runners of all ages Those who wish to participate in the weekend marathon can choose one of the following: PNC Kids' 1K Zeigler Kalamazoo Full Marathon Zeigler Kalamazoo Half Marathon Zeigler Kalamazoo Full Marathon Relay Zeigler Kalamazoo Half Marathon Relay Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon 10K Run Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon 5K Run/Walk Spring Stride Fest powered by Ascension Borgess runners can participate in the "50 State Challenge" and the "Mitten Challenge." In the "50 State Challenge," runners from across the country are called to represent their home state in whichever race they are participating in a runner must be the first one from their home state to cross the finish line as the competition only allows one representative per state The "Mitten Challenge" in partnership with the Wisconsin Marathon involves runners "earning their mittens" by completing the Wisconsin Marathon on May 3 and the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon on May 4 Runners who would like to register for any of the aforementioned events, minus the Spring Stride Fest, can register online anytime 10K run and 5K walk/run increase after 11:59 p.m according to the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon website Those who would like to participate in the PNC Kids' 1K can register online until 10 a.m Runners participating in the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon can expect to run along the following routes: For those running in the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon runners will get on their marks on South Street They will then run along the following paths: Three spirit stations are expected to be set along Howard Street Four spectator areas are also set to be placed near Stadium Drive For those participating in the Zeigler Kalamazoo Half-Marathon They will then run a path similar to the marathons' 10K A spectator area will be posted along Stadium Drive For those participating in the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon 5K They will then head along the following path: About two spirit stations are set to be placed along Burdick Street and Crosstown/Forest Street For those participating in the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon 10K There will be one spectator area along Stadium Drive According to Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon's website runners will have a designated lane to run in during any of the events roads will close at intersections where runners are crossing The following intersections will have temporary closures: The Portage Creek Bicentennial Park parking lot will also be closed until 12 p.m Alternate parking is recommended at Portage Creek Bicentennial Park "Critical points on the course will be monitored by public safety to ensure the safety of all runners and motorists," officials said online "Volunteer course monitors will be present along the course to ensure runners know where to go at potentially confusing spots and to add additional levels of safety." Community members with more questions about the Zeigler Kalamazoo Marathon can view an FAQs page online. — Thousands of protestors lined South Westnedge Avenue in Portage on Saturday for the May Day National Day of Action protestors are protesting the administration's moves involving the defunding of schools "We can see how many lives are going to be affected that that is the kind of trickle down that we're seeing right now We aren't seeing trickle down from giving money to corporations trickle down of economic vandalism," said State Representative Matt Longjohn (D- 40th district) The protest also featured a community food drive and a trash pickup effort Attendees were asked to bring a donation for local food banks Bill Huizenga's office and the Michigan House Republicans for comment but didn't receive a response at the publishing of this article A pop-up message on the KPS website Wednesday headlined "Internet Outage" stated computers and emails were impacted and though schools would remain open Thursday middle school students were given a half day and all conferences were cancelled — A "network security incident" has knocked Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS) offline since Wednesday Darrin Slade said the outages were due to a network security incident they have "no reason to believe the network security incident was a targeted attack against KPS" but systems will remain offline until they are confident they can "safely bring them back into service." The investigation into the cause of the incident is still ongoing but the schools will remain open KPS enlisted the help of a third-party information technology firm to conduct a "thorough investigation into the nature and scope of this incident" and work towards restoring full functionality as "quickly and safely as possible." "To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation we are unable to share additional information about the nature of the incident at this time," Slade said in the email "We will provide further updates and information as appropriate." This is a developing story and News Channel 3 will continue to seek updates — The driver of the car carrying a teen charged in the shooting death of Marktavion Perry-Bennett heard five gunshots fire from their car window as they drove the teen around Kalamazoo last week according to documents obtained by News Channel 3 Tuesday Officers with Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) were called to North Park Street near West Paterson Street Thursday for a shooting at 10:47 p.m officers found Perry-Bennett lying face down with a gunshot wound to his upper chest investigators found three spent 9mm casings in the middle of North Park Street just north of the home where Perry-Bennett was shot Witnesses also told detectives they saw a possible Black Chrysler 300 with the suspect shooting from it and noted the car fled on West Paterson Street the driver of the suspected car called 911 telling dispatchers they wanted to provide a statement to police they picked up Lamone Demetrius Hickman Jr from a Quick Stop and drove the 19-year-old to the Meijer on Gull Road as well as multiple other locations throughout the city the driver told investigators they saw Perry-Bennett standing in the driveway and heard five gunshots fire from their car window The driver confirmed to investigators that Hickman Jr telling detectives they saw the 19-year-old put a black handgun into his front waistband and heard him make a comment that he shot "Herb," the nickname for Perry-Bennett which he complied with and ran north toward Second Baptist Church on North Rose Street from a photo on his mother's Facebook page and investigators determined the 19-year-old was in the area of the shooting based on his cell phone records Hickman Jr was ultimately arrested in Muskegon and was charged Monday with the following: A judge denied the 19-year-old's bond is scheduled to be back in court for a probable cause conference May 6 followed by a preliminary examination on May 13 according to court documents obtained by News Channel 3 A 59-year-old Kalamazoo County man recently became a big winner playing a game he likes to call "scratch-off roulette." The man, who chose to remain anonymous, recently won $1 million on a 50X instant ticket, according to the Michigan Lottery He told the Michigan Lottery he likes to buy a bunch of scratch-off tickets scratch the barcodes and scan them to see if he won he received a message to contact the Michigan Lottery I thought: ‘A $1 million prize would be nice!’ he said "Then I scratched off the prize amount and was in shock when I saw I’d actually won $1 million He purchased his ticket at Ziggy's located at 5384 N The man recently claimed his prize and opted to receive a one-time lump sum payment of about $694,000 instead of the full amount More: Best friends win $2 million Michigan Lottery prize on trip home from U.P. He plans to save the money to retire early It started with three top prizes worth $1 million Saturday, May 3, 2025 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes Kalamazoo Location 6080 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49009 (269) 375-2900 Driving Directions Saturday, May 3, 2025 4:00 PM EDT Live Stream Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes Kalamazoo Location 6080 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49009 (269) 375-2900 Driving Directions Saturday, May 3, 2025 5:00 PM EDT Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes Kalamazoo Location 6080 Stadium Drive Kalamazoo, MI 49009 (269) 375-2900 Driving Directions At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice Susan Mast ALS Foundation Web Site The Catholic Schools of Greater Kalamazoo - Faculty Endowment Web Site Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home VanderSalm's Flower Shop 1120 S. Burdick St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001 (269) 343-2671 Web Site passed away after a long and valiant struggle with ALS she never lost her love of life and love of others Her signature smile continued to light every room she entered Judy was the third of six children of Barbara and William Plesscher She graduated from East Lansing High School and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education followed by a master's degree from Michigan State University She was a devoted “Spartan” her entire life especially when it came to her childhood adventures growing up with her five siblings and traveling — most of all with her family She embraced the beauty in everyday life and treasured the many deep friendships she cultivated over the years She spent the majority of her working career teaching both special and regular education sixth graders at West Middle School leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless students as well as her unwavering commitment to the growth and well-being of her students many of her former students remember her nurturing spirit and the impact she had on their lives with some keeping in touch with her all these years She often said her greatest joy in life was being a mother and grandmother Tom was her steadfast caregiver in the final years of her life and their love was a constant source of strength and comfort Judy is survived by her 101-year-old mother Tom; her children: Jeff (Tuyet) Abraham and Jennifer (Andrew) Riker; her grandchildren: Emma and Patty; and many dear friends and former students who felt her impact deeply She was preceded in death by her sister Susie Chandler in 2019 and the joy she brought into the lives of everyone who knew her The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr Twydell and the ALS Clinic in Grand Rapids as well as to her devoted caregivers Dana Albertson and KC Vos and the compassionate team at Centrica Care Navigators and support made all the difference during Judy’s final years it was Judy's wish that memorial donations be made to the Susan Mast ALS Foundation or The Catholic Schools of Greater Kalamazoo - Faculty Endowment from 3 PM to 4 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes A Life Story Service will begin at 4 PM followed by a reception in the Life Story Center where food Celebrate Judy’s life online by sharing your favorite photos and memories on her personalized web page at BetzlerLifeStory.com May the breeze blow new strength into your being May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.” JavaScript is disabled. In order to use all of the features on betzlerlifestory.com, enable JavaScript.Close READ MORETeen charged in fatal Kalamazoo shooting, marking fourth homicide of 2025 by Autumn Pitchure | News Channel 3 — A 19-year-old has been arraigned in the deadly shooting of 21-year-old Marktavion Perry-Bennett of Kalamazoo Officers with Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) were called to North Park Street near West Patterson Street Thursday for a report of a shooting at 10:47 p.m officers found Marktavion Perry-Bennett had been shot The 21-year-old was taken to an area hospital I'm gonna miss seeing him every morning before I go to work," Jaukueeta Perry-Bennett With help from the Muskegon Police Department and Michigan State Police KDPS detectives were able to arrest Hickman at a home in Muskegon on Friday Thursday's shooting comes after the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety reported a significant decrease in violent crime over the past year there was a 54% drop in homicides from 2023 to 2024 with four homicides occurring within the first four months of 2025 Jaukueeta Perry-Bennett told News Channel 3 Monday she wants the gun violence to stop "There's something wrong here in Kalamazoo whoever need to get it together because something needs to be done," Perry-Bennett said A judge denied Hickman's bond on Monday He is scheduled to be back in court for a probable cause conference May 6 KALAMAZOO COUNTY, Mich. – A Michigan man won a million-dollar prize after purchasing several different scratch-off lottery tickets. The 59-year-old Kalamazoo County man, who decided to remain anonymous, purchased his winning 50X ticket at Ziggy’s, which is located at 5384 North Riverview Drive in Kalamazoo. “I play what I like to call ‘scratch-off roulette’ where I buy a bunch of different scratch-off tickets and then scratch the barcodes and scan them to see if I won,” the player told Michigan Lottery officials. “When I scanned this 50X ticket, I got a message to contact the Lottery, so I scratched off the play area.” He was hoping for a $1 million prize, and was shocked we he actually won. “When I saw I matched number 1, I thought: ‘A $1 million prize would be nice!’ Then I scratched off the prize amount and was in shock when I saw I’d actually won $1 million! Winning is freeing, life-changing, and still setting in,” said the player. The 59-year-old decided to collect his prize as a one-time lump sum payment of about $694,000. He plans to save his prize money so that he and his wife can retire early. The 50X game launched in February, and since then, people have won more than $16 million playing the game. Players have the chance to win prizes from $10 up to $1 million with each $10 ticket. Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved. Sara Powers joined WDIV as a digital content producer in Oct. 2024 and has been covering Metro Detroit news since 2021. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WDIV Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 ClickOnDetroit.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group by Katie Sergent and Autumn Pitchure | News Channel 3 New video shows the moment a driver crashed into a Speedway gas station on March 19 injuring several people No one was killed in the crash one person who was critically hurt is still recovering according to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety — New video shows the moment a driver crashed into a Speedway gas station on March 19 Officers were called to the crash on South Westnedge Avenue near Denway Drive at about 1 p.m public safety officers found multiple people motorcycles and cars had been hit after a driver veered off the street and crashed into a gas pump but seven people had to be treated for injuries on scene One motorcyclist was hospitalized and has since been released A man pumping gas that was struck by the car was also hospitalized He remained in critical condition for weeks but has since been released from the hospital and is recovering through physical rehabilitation The driver who crashed into the gas station was last known to be cooperating with investigators Officers are awaiting forensic and toxicology reports to move the investigation forward according to KDPS Public Information Officer Zach Hamelton "We appreciate the public's continued patience as cases like these take time to fully determine the cause," officers said March 20 Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call KDPS' Criminal Investigations Division at 269-337-8139 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 by Katie Sergent and Stephanie Forth | News Channel 3 — Staff at Green Door Distilling in Kalamazoo had called Kalamazoo Public Safety for help with crowd control moments before a security guard was shot and killed on Saturday according to distillery officials in a statement "First and foremost Green Door Distilling expresses its deepest condolences to the victim and their family," officials with Green Door Distilling said in a statement "We are heartbroken by this loss and wish to acknowledge the victim's bravery in attempting to protect others at the event." Green Door Distilling had been contracted to host a private event booked by an individual who represented himself as the President of the Western Michigan University (WMU) Black Student Union (BSU) disputes this account from Green Door Distilling "From my discussion with the president of the Black Student Union he did not rent out the facility," Davis said staff experienced a "surge" of attendees on Saturday despite assurances that the event would remain within the venue's capacity A flier was shared online inviting people to come to a party providing Green Door Distilling's address "The contract and subsequent communications between Green Door Distilling and the event organizer clearly outlined the responsibilities of the host," Green Door Distilling leadership said providing security personnel for entry management (ID and bag checks) and ensuring no outside beverages were brought onto the premises Capacity limitations were explicitly communicated and agreed upon by the host." The owner of Green Door Distilling told News Channel 3 they were bombarded as a large crowd began forming adding the crowd "got out of control." Staff then called Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) at 10:57 p.m. public safety officers were on scene and told Green Door staff to make an announcement to attendees the host’s hired security personnel were actively working to manage the situation including limiting entry as the venue reached capacity and addressing a disruptive individual," Green Door Distilling leadership said Less than a minute after the announcement was made police said the shooting happened in the business's parking lot was shot in the chest and was taken to the hospital Green Door Distilling is cooperating with the investigation by state and local authorities according to Green Door Distilling leadership "The safety and well-being of our staff and patrons are of paramount importance," officials said "Green Door Distilling is committed to providing a safe environment for our community We want to assure our community that the events of April 12th were an isolated incident and not representative of the experiences typically associated with our establishment." Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is looking for any witnesses who can help move the investigation forward Anonymous tips can be submitted through the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division at 269-337-8139 or through Kalamazoo Silent Observer online. and the city of Kalamazoo is gearing up to celebrate will bike-friendly events Events throughout the month of May will offer opportunities for all ages and skill levels and helps make our neighborhoods more livable Whether it’s for fun or for getting where you need to go we want biking to be safe and accessible for everyone,” said Rebakah Kik More local events and how you can participate can he found here — A mother is speaking out after her son was shot and killed Thursday night in Kalamazoo KDPS said officers were called to North Park Street near West Patterson Street for a report of a shooting around 10:47 p.m it doesn't even feel real to me at all," said Jaukueeta Perry-Bennett Family of Marktavion came together Friday to release balloons in his memory I'm gonna miss seeing him every morning before I go to work," Jaukueeta said during Christmas he bought all his little cousins Christmas presents With the help of officers from the Muskegon Police Department and Michigan State Police troopers KDPS detectives said they were able to arrest a suspect at a home in Muskegon on Friday Jaukueeta told News Channel 3 she wants the gun violence to stop whoever need to get it together because something needs to be done," Jaukueeta said That suspect is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday Kalamazoo Public Schools has become increasingly popular after implementation of the Kalamazoo Promise in 2005. The promise would allow graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools to have a portion or all of their tuition and mandatory fees to colleges or universities in Michigan paid for I love seeing the district continuing to grow and have success Back in January, KPS and many other school districts in Michigan were victims of a system breach that placed sensitive information at risk This would take a few weeks to figure out but eventually everything would be secured and there was no threat to worry about There were some extra precautions put into place to keep this from happening again Unfortunately, those precautions weren't enough and KPS has found themselves in another situation involving their system. KPS is currently without internet services as they deal with a "network security incident" that occurred earlier this week They have been offline and running school the old fashion way since Wednesday KPS does not believe that this was a targeted attack but they have hired a third-party information technology firm to investigate how the attack happened and how deep it reaches They are focused on bringing the services back quickly but in the safest way possible Darrin Slade has expressed that systems won't be back online until it is 100% safe to do so KPS has remained and will remain open during the entirety of the investigation and classes will still be held KPS hasn't released any information on how the incident occurred The phone systems are not affected by this outage but they did cancel middle school conferences because of this issue Gallery Credit: Scott Clow KPS is currently without internet services as they deal with a \"network security incident\" that occurred earlier this week.\nRead More Kalamazoo Public Schools has become increasingly popular after implementation of the Kalamazoo Promise in 2005. The promise would allow graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools to have a portion or all of their tuition and mandatory fees to colleges or universities in Michigan paid for Back in January, KPS and many other school districts in Michigan were victims of a system breach that placed sensitive information at risk Unfortunately, those precautions weren't enough and KPS has found themselves in another situation involving their system. KPS is currently without internet services as they deal with a "network security incident" that occurred earlier this week KPS does not believe that this was a targeted attack KPS has remained and will remain open during the entirety of the investigation and classes will still be held A rally and march to end gun violence was held in Kalamazoo Wednesday evening which included about a couple hundred people began at Mount Zion Baptist Church and ended on Park Street where one of the most recent shootings took place on April 24 — A rally and march to end gun violence was held in Kalamazoo Wednesday evening Although the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said violent crime is down Wednesday's rally is in response to several recent shootings His family attended Wednesday's rally to honor his memory and to protest gun violence Also participating in the march was Kelola White who told News Channel 3 that her brother was killed by gun violence "I want to say this to the younger generation that I know that it's hard in this difficult sometimes but we have to learn how to respect life," White said they in a eternity and it's over with and you can't undo what you've already done." The suspect in the death of Perry-Bennett, 19-year-old Lamone Hickman Jr., has since been arrested and charged with open murder, according to police. KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kzoo Parks and the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo are teaming up to host a free event May 10 in celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. Taking place at Upjohn Park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event includes activities like guided bird walks, local nature art for sale, a create your own bird feeder activity, and informational booths from a variety of local organizations. The informative bird walks are led by the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, and will go from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring binoculars if they have them. Extra binoculars will be available for use. The event takes place during the peak time for spring bird migration in the area. Birds that may appear at Upjohn Park during this time include raptors, warblers, shorebirds, waterfowl, and marsh birds, according to officials. Informational and activity booths will be set up from the following organizations: the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo, City of Kalamazoo, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Kalamazoo Area Wild Ones, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, Wild Birds Unlimited, Children's Nature Playscape, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, and the Kalamazoo Conservation District. All community members are welcome to come to this free event. READ MOREKalamazoo hotels back 4% visitor assessment to fund $40M indoor sports facilityby Stephanie Forth | News Channel 3 — Hotels in Kalamazoo County voted to establish funding for the development of a new $40 million indoor sports facility organizers from Discover Kalamazoo announced Wednesday hotels with 35 rooms or more will collect a 4% assessment on visitor stays of less than 30 days that will go towards the acquisition and maintenance of the Kalamazoo County Event Center Assessment District (KCECAD) The facility's initial design features space for eight basketball courts or 16 volleyball courts who said it will serve the local community --in particularly youth-- during the week and will also host regional tournaments on weekends "Sports tourism continues to be a major driver of economic impact for our community,” Brian Persky director of business development for Discover Kalamazoo more than 50 sporting events brought an estimated $30.3 million in direct visitor spending to Kalamazoo thanks in large part to the efforts of our sports partners in the community we look forward to building on that success and opportunities that will strengthen our local economy and enhance the vibrant sports culture we’ve worked hard to grow." As sports tourism continues to grow in the area the indoor sports facility is just the first project organizers expect to benefit from the new assessment Discover Kalamazoo said their next step will be requesting that the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners create an ad hoc committee to review potential sites and make a recommendation on the location of the facility Once that recommended location gets the green light organizers said an authority may be formed between the municipality of that location and the county pursuant to the KCECAD's enabling ordinance and daily operations will come after the location is finalized "Supporting this vote is an easy decision,” Elena Kitterman director of sales of Homewood Suites by Hilton & Courtyard by Marriott Kalamazoo-Portage “It’s a smart investment in the success of our area hotels and the future of Kalamazoo With the potential to generate over 36,000 additional room nights annually we’re not just focused on today; we’re helping position our community for increased revenue and lasting economic impact as a premier destination for sports and events." The vote passed with 82% of hotels in favor