GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — A 19-year-old man will spend decades in prison after fatally shooting a 15-year-old girl who was riding her scooter with friends during a birthday party in downtown Grand Rapids, prosecutors said.
According to court documents, Josiah Tyree Pittman was sentenced to 27 to 52 years in prison for second-degree murder and felony firearms in the killing of La’Kyijah Williams, a high school freshman known for her bright personality and love of basketball.
Deadly Shooting Captured on Surveillance Video
Prosecutors said the deadly incident happened just before midnight on May 18, 2024, when Pittman, who was walking through the area, pulled out a gun and opened fire on a group of teens gathered to celebrate a birthday.
“There was no exchange. There’s no exchange of words,” said Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Blair Lachman, according to WZZM-TV. “This shows anything but remorse. It’s an excuse unsupported by any piece of evidence.”…