A 16-year-old Michigan defendant has been sentenced to serve 20 to 60 years in state prison for the fatal shooting of a 73-year-old neighbor, a case marked by chilling text messages in which the teen bragged about watching the victim die. Kemaree Davis received the sentence from Muskegon Circuit Judge Matthew R. Kacel after pleading no contest to one count of open murder and two felony weapons charges related to the 2025 killing of Thomas Stewart.
Background
The incident occurred on the morning of Dec. 1, 2025, when authorities responded to a reported shooting at a residence in the 1400 block of Jiroch Street in Muskegon. Police found Stewart dead between the kitchen and living room with a gunshot wound to the upper body. Investigators determined that Stewart’s pockets had been turned out and his wallet was found next to his body, suggesting a robbery motive. Surveillance footage later showed Davis, who was known to Stewart from the neighborhood, entering and leaving the home. Davis was arrested approximately one week after the body was discovered.
The Investigation
During police interviews, Davis allegedly stated that he had entered Stewart's home intending to rob him. He claimed Stewart gave him $20 upon discovering him inside, but then Davis's firearm "went off," killing the elderly man. Davis admitted to taking an additional $20 from Stewart's wallet after the shooting. About an hour later, Davis sent a text message to a 17-year-old friend, writing, "The old man is dead. Bro, I watched him gasp his last breath." Prosecutors cited this message as key evidence, alongside witness testimony and investigative findings linking Davis to the crime.
The Charges
Davis pleaded no contest to one count of open murder, one count of felony use of a firearm, and one count of carrying a concealed weapon. Judge Kacel sentenced Davis to 20 to 60 years for the murder charge, concurrent with two years for the firearm use and two to five years for the concealed weapon charge. Although Davis received 288 days of credit for time already served, the court specified that this credit applies only to the weapons sentences, not the murder sentence.
Key Takeaways
- Kemaree Davis was sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison for the murder of Thomas Stewart.
- Davis allegedly texted a friend that he watched Stewart "gasp his last breath" shortly after the shooting.
- The victim, 73-year-old Thomas Stewart, had been battling cancer and weighed about 100 pounds at the time of his death.
- Davis pleaded no contest to open murder and two felony weapons charges.
- The sentences for the weapons charges will run concurrently with the murder sentence.
What's Next
With sentencing finalized, Davis begins serving his term at a state correctional facility. As a juvenile tried as an adult, his parole eligibility and potential appeals will be determined under Michigan state law. The victim's family has expressed their grief through impact statements, emphasizing the loss of a vulnerable neighbor who was already battling serious health issues.