Late on the evening of Thursday, November 6, 2025, the city of Grand Rapids was rocked by the tragic death of 26-year-old Donovan Moody. Around 8:30 p.m., officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department responded to reports of gunfire on Hollister Avenue, just north of Wealthy Street. They found Donovan lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite immediate life-saving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The following morning, the Kent County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide.
For the people of Grand Rapids, a city experiencing historic lows in violent crime, the loss felt especially jarring. Chief Eric Winstrom of the Grand Rapids Police Department described the scene as “a very depressing one to show up on at 9 o’clock at night … and not something that the city of Grand Rapids wants to see in 2025.” He acknowledged that while statistics may comfort the wider community, “that’s going to be no comfort at all to this family, which is going to be devastated.”
Donovan was far more than the victim of a crime. He was a son, a brother, a cousin, a friend—someone who illuminated the lives of those he touched. Friends remember his warmth, his humor, and a genuine generosity: whether it was a joke that lifted your mood or a quiet moment of support when someone needed it, Donovan was there. His kindness was the sort that made others feel valued, the kind that created connection. That presence, that spark, is now gone—and with it, the hopes and dreams he held for his future.
At an age where many are just beginning to build the life they imagine, Donovan’s death is an abrupt, devastating interruption. He was 26—full of possibility, still shaping his path, surrounded by people who believed in him. His loved ones now face the brutal reality of the life cut short, and of the question that haunts: why. The senselessness of this act compounds the grief, leaving a tragic emptiness where expectation and promise once stood.
In the days since the shooting, the Grand Rapids community has begun to respond—not with grand gestures, but with quiet solidarity. Neighbors, friends and acquaintances have gathered, sharing memories of Donovan, offering support to his family, and voicing the frustration that violence still wends its way into places trying to move forward. Their gatherings reflect not only mourning, but a resolve: to honour Donovan’s memory and to claim strength together in the face of loss.
The investigation into Donovan’s homicide continues, with police urging anyone with information to come forward. But beyond the hunt for justice, his life is already leaving a mark—reminding everyone that the measure of a person often lies in their everyday impact: the kindness they share, the laughter they invite, the hearts they touch. That is how his loved ones will carry him forward—not defined by the manner of his leaving, but by the full life he lived, however brief.
As Grand Rapids holds its collective breath, mourning one of its own, let us remember Donovan Moody for the light he brought. His memory will quietly challenge the community to live as he did: with compassion, with presence, and with connection. And may his friends and family find solace in each other, as they navigate this painful reality together.