From left: Dewond Estes and Justice Chimner (WMMT/YouTube). Jack Snyder (Bachman Hebble Funeral Service).
A Michigan judge on Monday sentenced the first of two boys involved in the attempted carjacking and murder of a high school senior to juvenile detention.
Dewond Estes III, then just 13, walked outside in the wintry cold in Battle Creek with his pal Justice Chimner, then 14, on Feb. 17, 2023. Jack Snyder, 17, happened to be driving by — on his way home after his girlfriend’s birthday party — and decided to give the boys a lift out of the kindness of his heart.
But the teens did not return the favor.
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Instead, they tried to steal Snyder’s car. Then Chimner shot Snyder twice. Snyder crashed and the teens took off running. Paramedics pronounced Snyder dead at the scene. Detectives with the Battle Creek Police Department were able to identify Chimner and Estes as suspects and took them into custody shortly thereafter. Prosecutors charged them as adults.
According to a courtroom report from Kalamazoo CBS affiliate WMMT, Estes pleaded guilty in October to carjacking and prosecutors dismissed the murder charge. On Monday, Estes received a blended sentence: after being convicted as an adult, he was sentenced as a juvenile. He will be placed into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services until he’s 18, the TV station reported. He’ll have to appear before Calhoun Circuit Judge John Hallacy every 90 days to review his progress. Once Estes turns 18, the judge will determine if he needs to be entered into the adult department of corrections system.
Estes initially claimed he was just a bystander to the crime, but cops discovered he had FaceTimed with another buddy and said he was planning on stealing a car, WMMT reported.
Court records show Chimner pleaded guilty to murder last month. Local Fox affiliate WXMI reports that Chimner will face between 35 and 60 years when he’s sentenced in March.
Snyder’s obituary said he was set to graduate from Battle Creek Central High School before he died. Soccer was “true passion.”
“The students and faculty described Jack as light-hearted, charismatic, athletic, and humorous. One whom left an indelible mark on all that met him,” the obituary said.
