KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) — A 19-year-old Battle Creek man has been found guilty of murder in the 2025 shooting death of a Kalamazoo security guard.
A jury found Kaiden Cole guilty of first-degree murder, felony firearm and carrying a concealed weapon in the killing of 27-year-old security guard Montine Wiley, Jr.
The April 12, 2025, shooting happened around 11 p.m. in the parking lot of Green Door Distillery on North Street near Porter Street. Wiley’s security company had been hired to manage entry that night in anticipation of Western Michigan University students flocking to the bar after an event on campus. Still, a larger-than-expected crowd formed outside.
2 charged after shooting death of Kalamazoo security guard
According to court documents, another security guard refused entry to a man in a red shirt — later identified as Cole, a then-high school senior, — leading to an argument. Witnesses later told investigators that the man in the red shirt told the guard to meet him in the parking lot, before walking away. Court documents say Wiley asked another security guard for a gun and then approached Cole…