LIVINGSTON COUNTY (WWJ) - A 22-year-old man was charged with open murder after he allegedly shot and killed a Michigan State University student in Howell last month.
Reese Hammie, 22, appeared in Livingston County's 53rd District Court. on Thursday, Sept. 7 where he was arraigned on two charges including open murder and witness intimidation in connection to the fatal incident.
Police accuse Hammie of fatally shooting Oghenevwede "Wede" Okagbare, 20, just after midnight on Friday, August 11 at a home in the 400 block of West Street, a few blocks from the downtown area.
Officers along with deputies with the Livingston County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene after receiving a report of gunfire in the area and found a male victim -- later identified as Okagbare -- deceased with apparent gunshot wounds.
Police said they have had Hammie in custody since the night of the shooting, stating at the time that there was no threat to the public. In addition to deputies from Livingston County, police said they were assisted by troopers with the Michigan State Police, officers from Green Oak Township Police and Meridian Township Police, and Livingston County EMS.
"This case has been an example of tremendous teamwork and cooperation between law enforcement agencies involved in this case," Howell police said in a statement.
According to court documents, Hammie has another case open in the same court on charges of domestic violence and home invasion.
A judge denied bond for Hammie. His next court date is set for Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Family and friends of Okagbare said on his GoFundMe memorial and funeral page that the 20-year-old was entering his junior year at MSU where he was studying computer science.
Okagbare was a graduate of Walled Lake West High School where he "enjoyed played basketball and playing Bass guitar" and spent most of his time working as a computer science intern at Rocket Mortgage.
"He was a loving son and brother who was hard-working and loved by many. He will be dearly missed," they wrote.
