GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A Grand Rapids man who was found guilty of shooting and killing two people in 2022 was sentenced Wednesday.
Deiontreay Darrell Craft, 26, was found guilty of two counts of open murder, carrying a concealed weapon, being a felon in possession of a handgun and two additional felony firearms charges in June.
On Wednesday, he appeared in court for his sentencing hearing, where he heard from family members of one of his victims.
These charges go back to June 23, 2022, when officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department responded to the 800 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Street SE.
Officers found two men with gunshot wounds and attempted life-saving measures, but were unsuccessful.
The two victims killed in the shooting were identified as 58-year-old Tony Dwayne Vaughn and 58-year-old Freddie James Lusk. The Kent County Medical Examiner completed an autopsy of both victims and concluded both deaths were the result of a homicide.
Vaughn's daughters spoke during the sentencing hearing, with one sharing that Vaughn loved celebrating his birthday—which was the same day he was murdered.
"The day he left us, we went from planning a birthday party to planning a funeral on the same day, which was his birthday," she said. "Now it’s hard to remember his day of birth because that’s how he went out—on his day."
She went on to say that she didn't feel hatred toward Craft because she wanted to focus on continuing her father's legacy.
"The way he was taken from our lives had nothing to do with how he lived his life," she said. "Today it's hard not to reach for my phone and call to say, 'Dad what are you doing?' Some days I turn around expecting to see him smiling at me because I feel that loving presence."
Judge Christina Elmore emphasized Craft's prior convictions and addressed him before handing down his sentence.
"Obviously your actions had a ripple effect. I don’t know if you didn’t think of the ripple effect or simply didn’t care. Your actions in this case are simply inexplicable and this is just a needless tragedy," Elmore said.
She sentenced Craft to life in prison without parole for the two murder charges. He was also sentenced to four to five years for the firearm charges.
He will also pay over $1,500 in fees.