King Park Shooting

In 2008 two lives were lost. One of the two was a 16 year old named David Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a junior that attended Creston High School. His mother, Nyree Witherspoon said he was amazing, handsome, and caring. Grand Rapids police Lt. John Wittkowski said he believes this shooting was gang related. Nyree Witherspoon said her son was not involved with any gangs. David had a twin sister named Danielle who also did not believe he was in a gang. 

Witherspoon does not know why her son was on the southeast side of town after 4pm. The Witherspoon's home is on the northeast side of town. After school on Fridays David would routinely get on a bus to spend part of the weekend with his father David Cantrell Jr. Witherspoon said her son loved working with computers and was going to college to study Computer Technology. David and Danielle were active members in their church's youth group. They would often participate in Thursday Night Hype. 

Police say that Keenan the shooter was apart of the Eastern Avenue Boys Gang. Keenan did not know David.  This was a drive by shooting. Witnesses say there were about 5 shots that entered the crowd that David was in. Four days after the shooting Keenan made a phone call to his relatives asking about suicide and heaven. It was obvious Keenan regretted his actions. His uncle Larry Keenan got a chance to speak to him and he told him "don't kill yourself, boy". Tuesday afternoon his uncle Larry had been informed that his 21 year old nephew had committed suicide. He shot himself in a hotel room as police in riot gear closed in. The hotel was evacuated, it was reported that it took a total or 40 minutes to get everyone out safely. The police closes off streets on able to keep the public safe. One of Keenan's acquaintances that was with him never mentioned to the police that Keenan had taken his life. His acquaintance later said that he didn't know if there was a reason behind Kennan shooting David Witherspoon. The police delivered the news to the Keenan family and his uncle said he was a good kid until he got wrapped up in life. Keenan was involved in church when he was younger. He also attended stop the violence seminars when he attended Creston High School years before.