Man sentenced to at least 30 years for fatal shooting of teen in Warren over basketball game

Keneth Cutts fatally shot in neck

Larry Londra Walker at his sentencing Aug. 15, 2018. (WDIV)

WARREN, Mich. – A 25-year-old man was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison Wednesday for the death of a 17-year-old boy during a fight over a basketball game.

On April 14, 2017 Larry Londra Walker shot Kenneth Cutts in the neck. Cutts died the next day.

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Walker was charged with one count of first-degree homicide and a felony firearms violation. He went to trial and was convicted of second-degree murder, a lesser charge that a jury found more suitable than the first-degree murder charge.

At Wednesdays sentencing hearing, Judge Joseph Toia, listened to Walker try to explain how the shooting was an accident.

Walker apologized to the family of the victim. He said he has realized he was guilty and wished he cooperated with officials from the beginning.

Toia heard a victim impact statement from Kenneth Cutts' sister, Kiara.

"You're a disappointment to your family, to society, to your children," she said to Walker. "No, I don't want your sympathy because you're not sorry. Because if you were you would truly told the truth, and you would have pled guilty. I hope your nights continue to be restless."

Before sentencing Toia spoke to Walker directly, "Mr. Walker, all I can say is that you took the life of a promising young man."

Toia continued, "It was the most senseless thing I could even think of. You had every opportunity to turn around and walk away and you continued to go forward regardless of what version of the facts you want to talk about. You went forward and you pulled that gun out, and you killed that young man, Mr. Walker."

Walker maintained that it was an accident, but the judge didn't agree. "I'm not gonna give you credit because you got a bad aim, Sir. You shot him in the back of the head," the judge said.

Meanwhile, Walker pleaded guilty to a possession of cocaine charge from 2016. He is expected back in court on Sept. 5 for sentencing on the drug possession charge.

Preliminary hearing outburst

During Walker's preliminary hearing earlier this year he tried filing a motion before the hearing got underway. The judge told him that any motions must go through his attorney.

Cedric Smith-Cole was the first witness to take the stand at the preliminary hearing.

Smith-Cole told the court Walker was present when Cutts was shot.

Walker attempted to make an objection. The judge ordered him to remain quiet during the proceedings.

“If you interrupt the proceedings one more time the deputies will remove you from this courtroom and we’ll conduct this preliminary examination without your presence,” the judge said. “I do not want you to say anything because if you say anything it’s going to be used against you and it could hurt your case.”

The prosecution continued asking Smith-Cole about the day in question.

Walker objected again and was removed from the courtroom.

The court took a brief recess until video conference could be set up.

Watch deputies remove Walker from the courtroom below:

The prosecution rested after Smith-Cole left the stand.

The defense called Officer David Michelis  to take the stand. He was asked about the report taken from Smith-Cole after the shooting. The questioning referred to how Smith-Cole relayed suspect information to the officer.

During final arguments, the defense attorney argued the prosecution didn't have enough evidence to support premeditated murder. The judge disagreed.

Walker was bound over for trial.

Kenneth Cutts killed

People who live in the neighborhood near Paige Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard said teens had been fighting repeatedly in the street. 

They said those fistfights had recently ended with gunfire. 

"It was just guys, and they were just fighting each other down there," said Lisa Chapman, who said she is fed up with the fighting and gunfire. 

Warren police were called to the neighborhood on April 22 on a report of shots fired. Two shell casings were found, but no one was injured. 

Sources said two males rolled up on April 24 and started shooting after a basketball game. Cutts was hit in the neck and taken to St. John Hospital. 

UPDATE: Friend describes heartbreaking moments after Warren teen was fatally shot

Teen dies in hospital

Cutts died about 12:30 a.m. the next day, Warren police said. 

Friend describes moments after shooting

Cutts' best friend held him in his arms while they waited for an ambulance.

Cutts was a senior at Roseville High School and a star football player. His friend, Cedric-Smith Cole, was involved in a fight after a basketball game on Sunday. Cutts went to meet Cole on Monday when the same men from the fight rolled up and started shooting, police said.

"I pulled him in the house and grabbed the towels, but there was too much blood," Cole said. "I was holding his hand. I told him, 'If you die, bro, I love you.' Then I squeezed his hand, and then he died."


About the Authors:

Kayla is a Web Producer for ClickOnDetroit. Before she joined the team in 2018 she worked at WILX in Lansing as a digital producer.