Kayvon Briscoe-Hall, a 21-year-old Michigan man, was convicted Wednesday of second-degree murder and felony firearm charges in the fatal shooting of his older romantic partner, ending a trial that revealed a volatile relationship marked by escalating hostility.
The victim, Roger Willie, 63, died from multiple gunshot wounds at the couple's home on Marr Avenue in Warren, an inner-ring suburb of Detroit. The October 2025 shooting prompted police to respond to reports of gunfire, where officers found Willie unresponsive and bleeding. Responding officers attempted lifesaving measures before rushing him to Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Background
Briscoe-Hall and Willie began their relationship after meeting on a dating app in 2023, eventually moving in together as roommates and romantic partners. The significant age gap between the two — Briscoe-Hall at 21 compared to Willie's 63 years — became a point of contention during trial proceedings.
Neighbors testified about increasing hostility from Briscoe-Hall toward his much older boyfriend in the months preceding the shooting, describing incidents of screaming, door slamming, and at least one instance where Briscoe-Hall allegedly inflicted a gash on Willie's forehead. One neighbor recounted overhearing Briscoe-Hall speaking on the phone in August 2025 while home alone, telling someone: "Oooooo girl, this is all going to be mine soon."
The Charges
During closing arguments, Assistant Macomb County Prosecutor Maria Panchenko described the final confrontation between the couple as "not like any other argument," portraying Briscoe-Hall's actions as deliberate provocation designed to achieve his objectives.
"The defendant tried to antagonize Roger, baited him, goaded him because he wanted to get his way," Panchenko told the jury. The prosecutor acknowledged that Briscoe-Hall had asked Willie not to enter their shared bedroom but argued this provided no justification for shooting.
"It's a shared room," she said. "Roger didn't listen."
Defense attorney Grace Crivello suggested the shooting might have been justified, though her team did not formally argue self-defense. Her closing questions challenged jurors to distinguish between intentional murder and a reaction to a perceived threat.
"You have to determine, in that particular situation, were these actions justified, or was it intentional?" Crivello asked. "Was it a murder, or a reaction to a perceived threat?"
Trial testimony established that on the day of the shooting, Briscoe-Hall retreated into the bedroom and shouted for Willie to "Get out" during an argument. Seconds later, three shots were fired — with the final two bullets striking Willie.
Key Takeaways
- Kayvon Briscoe-Hall, 21, convicted of second-degree murder and felony firearm in Macomb County Circuit Court
- Victim Roger Willie, 63, died from multiple gunshot wounds at their shared Warren, Michigan home in October 2025
- Prosecutors argued Briscoe-Hall deliberately antagonized his older boyfriend leading up to the shooting
- A neighbor testified hearing Briscoe-Hall say "this is all going to be mine soon" months before the killing
- Defense suggested possible justification without formally arguing self-defense
What's Next
Briscoe-Hall is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19 in Macomb County Circuit Court. He faces a substantial prison term for his second-degree murder conviction, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in Michigan. The felony firearm charge carries an additional mandatory two-year sentence.