4 shot, man killed in parents' basement

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Parents of the man killed in a Saturday night shooting that also injured three others say that the victims were all friends playing cards in the basement of the Grand Rapids home where the shootings occurred.

Jason Cherry, 34, died at the scene, police said. Another man was critically injured after being shot in the face. Two others were treated for their wounds and released from the hospital, Cherry's father, Robert Cherry, told 24 Hour News 8.

"We can't understand why somebody would want to do something like this to him," Robert said. "He didn't have no enemies."

The shooting happened at around 11 p.m. Saturday in the basement of Jason's home where he lived with his parents in the 1200 block of Dickinson Street SE.

The parents were watching television in an upstairs bedroom when they heard the sound of gunshots being fired. Robert had not realized that the gunshots were coming from inside of his home until he went to the basement to investigate.

"I ran downstairs and I heard them hollering," he said. "I seen my son sitting in the chair ... ran over there where he was and I tried to wake him up. He wouldn't wake up."

Police said they suspect up to four people were involved in the shooting. One is described as a light-skinned black male between 5'5" and 5'7" having a short afro haircut and wearing a red bandana that covered his face. Another is described as a young black male around 6 feet tall wearing all black. No other descriptions were given, police said.

No arrests have been made.

"We don't know who they were and why they was here," Robert said, adding that he saw one person who he believed was a suspect walking across the front lawn of the home after he heard the shots fired.

Jason was a graduate of Ottawa Hills High School where he played football. His parents say he was "well-liked" and "well-loved." A year ago Jason had bypass surgery on his heart and had been recovering well ever since.

"He has never had any kind of fight or disagreement with people that I've ever known of," his mother Celia Cherry said. "'Why?' is what I ask."

"When you're at home and you're not safe -- when people coming into your house and shooting you and you're in your own home -- then where can you go at to be safe?"

Police said they have not determined what prompted the shootings. Jason's parents said they did not hear arguing or fighting before the shots were fired.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shootings to contact Grand Rapids police at 616.456.3604 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345 .

"Whoever did this, I hope they catch him and soon," Cherry's father said tearfully as he stood in the home where his son was killed. "It's heartbreaking. I just don't know what to do."