17-year-old Jack Snyder of Battle Creek, Michigan, was fatally shot after offering two teenagers a ride. According to Battle Creek Police Department Sergeant Chris Rabbitt, Snyder was leaving his girlfriend’s birthday party when he offered the 13 and 14-year-old a ride.
The two teens have since been charged with attempted carjacking and Snyder’s murder. Sergeant Rabbitt noted that Snyder was “trying to do what he thought was the right thing by offering a ride to these two younger kids walking in the freezing weather.”
The Battle Creek Firefighters IAFF Local 335 Facebook page reported that police received calls about gunshots near Battle Creek Avenue and Capital SW. Snyder was found on the road next to his vehicle when the officers arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two boys were allegedly seen in Snyder’s car before the shots were fired. They were described as one wearing a black and red jacket and having “long, messy hair” and the other wearing a black jacket with white patches and a “ski-mask-style hat.”
The 14-year-old has been charged with felony murder, carjacking, and two firearms charges, both felonies. The 13-year-old has been charged with open murder and carjacking.
Snyder was an honor student at Battle Creek Central High School and was involved in the National Honor Society, the American Red Cross, and Link Crew. He had planned to attend Grand Valley State University after high school. He is survived by his parents, two sisters, a brother, his paternal grandparents, his maternal grandmother, his girlfriend, and close friends.
In response to the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign has been created to help Snyder’s family, raising over $34,000 and surpassing its original goal of $8,000. The campaign’s description reads that Snyder’s family is humble and would give their own shirt off their back to anyone in need, and now it’s their time to be helped.
The Battle Creek community is still in shock and mourning after the senseless death of a young man who was trying to do the right thing.
