GRAND RAPIDS, MI — I wasn’t cracking bottles or dancing the night away with a bunch of people on New Year’s Eve.
A long time ago, I attended some parties and events, and I think my nieces and nephews said they were “energized.” This year, only candles were lit at Mass.
After leaving the parish, there was a small dinner party to conclude the evening, where we discussed the beautiful message and music of the church, discussed the major issues facing the country and the world, and raised a glass to 2024. I put it up and went home.
Sadly, those who decided to spend New Year’s Eve shopping at Walmart in Wyoming experienced the trauma of a shooting inside the store that left two people injured.
Veteran crime reporter John Agar told readers that police said the Walmart shooting appeared to be a “targeted attack” in which a man was shot dead. A woman, described as an innocent bystander, was also shot and killed Sunday night. Police have not released any information regarding the arrest, and much remains unknown.
On Tuesday, Agar also spoke about a restaurant employee who was charged with a felony for allegedly firing into a customer’s car at J. Burger and Wings on Eastern Avenue SE. Our readers were very interested in this case. The incident led to protests at the restaurant, and state Rep. Christian Grant, D-Grand Rapids, and others called for a boycott online.
Li Hao-Wang told investigators that he fired a handgun out of fear for his safety after an argument outside the restaurant on December 27, when a customer closed the register and could only pay with a debit card. He stated that he did so.
On a lighter note, Brian McVicar reported that the Celebration Cinema movie theater chain will screen the University of Michigan vs. Washington Huskies battle for the national college football championship on Monday, January 8th. Tickets are $20 and include a free small popcorn.
Melissa Frick reported which schools in the Grand Rapids area had the highest attendance rates for the 2022-23 school year. She told readers that most schools in West Michigan had high student attendance last year, with schools in Kent and Ottawa counties averaging about 92 percent.
Agar, a veteran crime reporter, also said Wednesday that a Muslim woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the Kent County Sheriff’s Department. She said the woman was forced to remove her hijab, a religious head covering, for her booking photo.
See these and other headlines below. Monica Scott is an editor at MLive/The Grand Rapids Press and previously a reporter covering area cities, counties and schools.
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