John Powell Jr., 44, was convicted of second-degree murder and five additional felony charges on September 25, 2026, by a Kalamazoo County jury for the May 18, 2023, killing of 42-year-old Tyquincy Tymain McFerrin, according to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS).
Trial and Conviction Details
A Kalamazoo County jury found Powell guilty of second-degree murder following a trial regarding the 2023 shooting at the Fox Ridge Apartments located in the 1400 block of Fox Ridge Drive. Investigators established that Powell and McFerrin engaged in a verbal argument before Powell fired a gunshot through an apartment door. The bullet struck McFerrin, who was positioned on the other side of the door, resulting in fatal injuries.
Alongside the second-degree murder conviction, the jury convicted Powell of discharging a weapon at a building causing death, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and three counts of felony firearm. Kalamazoo County Circuit Judge Christine A. Morse scheduled Powell’s sentencing for October 19, 2026.
Investigation and Arrest
Following the May 2023 shooting, law enforcement searched for Powell for several months before locating and arresting him in Lake County, Illinois. Captain Danielle Guilds of the KDPS Criminal Investigations Division addressed the conclusion of the case in a department news release.
“Today’s guilty verdict is the result of a long and difficult process, one that came with its share of challenges along the way,” Guilds stated in the release. “Our detectives and prosecutors remained committed to seeing this case through, and we are grateful that their efforts ultimately led to accountability. Most importantly, we hope this verdict brings some measure of closure to Tyquincy’s family, who have waited a long time for this day.”
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