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New details describe murder of Grand Rapids mom, suspect charged

Mya Kelly was shot and killed on the southwest side of Grand Rapids. On Monday, Keyante Newbern was in court for four felony charges, including open murder.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Court documents show on the night of Dec. 26, Mya Kelly heard a knock at at the door of her southwest side home. When she opened the door's covered peep hole, she was shot and killed.

Grand Rapids Police say Keyante Newbern is their suspect.

But how did investigators come to that conclusion?

They used surveillance video from three separate locations and witness descriptions.

Seconds after the shooting, someone working on their car saw a man wearing a white and gray jacket running away from the shooting scene.

Police used that information for a suspect description.

That night, investigators pulled security footage from a gas station near Hall Street showing the suspect running past the security camera.

Three minutes later, a Dodge Journey believed to be the getaway car, can also be seen passing by the camera.

Using a vehicle description, GRPD took the suspected driver of the Dodge Journey into custody.

Footage from a car repair shop on South Division Avenue shows the Journey in the parking lot moments before the shooting. Just after, the suspect in the white and gray jacket can be seen entering the passenger side door of the Journey before taking off.

Later, investigators were led to a local grocery store where surveillance video from earlier in the day showed who they believe is Newbern and the suspected driver walking around inside. The court documents state that Newbern was wearing the same jacket in the store as the night of shooting.

Investigators were able to identify Newbern, who has a criminal record, from inmate photos and his Secretary of State photo.

On Jan. 11, police used search warrants for three addresses to find and arrest Newbern. Two in Grand Rapids, and one in Lansing.

While police found Newbern at the Lansing address, during the search of a Grand Rapids address, they found a winter hat with the word "Michigan" on it that was worn while he was at the convenience store, and a gun laser sight with a blue beam.

During questioning, Newbern denied being at the shooting scene, instead, he said he was recording a rap video and was taken there by the suspected driver. 

That driver told police he dropped Newbern off near Kelly's home after the rap video was finished.

Investigators did see a part of a rap video, and in it, Newbern was again wearing the same white and gray jacket from that night. 

They say he was also holding a black handgun with the blue-beam laser that was recovered in Lansing. Police believed it to be a 9mm gun.

The Michigan State Police Lab confirmed a bullet found at the scene displayed markings from a Glock, the same type of weapon that was given to Newbern months prior to the shooting by the suspected driver.

Investigators have not said what may have led to shooting.

Newbern is facing four felony charges including murder, carrying concealed, firearm possession by a felon and weapons felony firearm.

He was arraigned earlier this afternoon and is scheduled to be back in court Feb. 15.

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