Man charged in Reutter Park murder in Lansing takes plea deal

LANSING — One of two men charged in the fatal shooting of Lewis Hill in Reutter Park last year entered no-contest pleas on Wednesday, but his co-defendant is proceeding toward trial.

Jacob Floyd Curtis, 25, pleaded no contest to manslaughter and armed robbery with an agreement he will get a fixed minimum sentence of 15 years in prison when he goes before Ingham Circuit Judge Joyce Draganchuk for sentencing on Sept. 23.

His co-defendant, Kelley Tyrone Whitt, 59, is scheduled for trial on Monday.

Chief Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Nicole Matusko confirmed the plea and trial arrangements but declined further comment, citing the impending trial. Curtis' attorney, Ronald Berry, also declined to comment.

Whitt and Curtis were charged in connection with the May 7, 2023 shooting of Hill, 48, in the park along South Capitol Avenue in downtown Lansing, about a two-block walk from the state Capitol.

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In a court document, Lansing police said Hill was sitting on a bench when Whitt climbed out of a vehicle, carrying a long gun, and walked up to him and said, "I want the money," and "Give me the money."

Witensses said Hill and Whitt struggled over the weapon, and Whitt yelled, "shoot him, shoot him," police said in the document. Curtis got out of the car with a handgun and shot Hill, they said. Police used gas station video and social media photos to identify Curtis as the driver and shooter.

Both defendants initially were charged with open murder, armed robbery and several weapons counts, and both had final pre-trial hearings on Wednesday.

A no-contest plea is not a formal admission of guilt but is treated as a conviction for the purposes of sentencing.

Armed robbery carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges against Curtis as part of the plea deal.

Contact Ken Palmer at kpalmer@lsj.com . Follow him on X @KBPalm_lsj

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Man charged in Reutter Park murder in Lansing takes plea deal