MUSKEGON, Mich. — On Saturday afternoon, a violent burst of gunfire shattered the relative calm of a Muskegon neighborhood, leaving two people dead, two men in critical condition, a 4‑year-old child wounded, and a community yawning in shock. Now, authorities have confirmed the identities of the deceased: 25‑year-old Josh Fondren Jr. and 22‑year-old Cori May.
The shooting occurred just after 3:15 p.m. inside a home on the 600 block of Jackson Avenue, near McLaren Street — a quiet residential pocket of Muskegon that early Saturday afternoon became a crime scene. Police responded to multiple reports of gunfire and found several people shot upon arrival.
Fondren was pronounced dead at the scene. Cori May, a 22‑year-old woman, was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries soon after. Two other 25‑year-old men were critically wounded and remain hospitalized, while a 4‑year-old child — struck during the violence — was treated for minor injuries and is expected to be released soon.
Authorities with the Muskegon Police Department say the suspect fled before officers arrived, and no arrests have been made yet. They emphasized that the shooting does not appear to be a random act.
The community — still reeling — has responded with calls for quiet, healing, and justice. In a statement, Ken Johnson, Mayor of Muskegon, lamented yet another night of violence after a recent homicide rocked the city. He urged residents to come forward with any information and stressed solidarity as vital during this painful moment.
No motive has been released so far. Investigators are working through leads, but as of now they have not named a suspect or publicly shared details about what prompted the shooting.
As the sun sets over Muskegon tonight, the grief in the streets — quiet, heavy grief — calls for answers. Police encourage anyone with information to contact them at 231‑724‑6750 or submit tips to Silent Observer at 231‑722‑7463. The hope: someone somewhere knows.
