2 held in basement shooting death

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Two men were arrested for the Dec. 29 shootings that left one man dead and three others injured in the basement of a Grand Rapids home.

Tamaine Foster and Isiah Latham were arrested in connection with the death of Jason Cherry in the basement of the Dickinson Street SE home he lived in with his parents, GRPD Chief Kevin Belk said at a news conference.

Police say the suspects were after the victim's drugs and money. They allegedly stole a quarter pound of marijuana and took off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

"I think they planned this ahead of time. I don't think there's any question," said Belk. "Things obviously went poorly and shots were fired and the victim Mr. Cherry was killed during the process."

Cherry, 34, died at the scene. Another man was critically injured after being shot in the face. Two others were treated for their wounds and released from the hospital.

"There were multiple shots fired," Belk said. "We believe more than one weapon was involved."

Latham and Foster are scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

"I'm going to be glad when they convict these guys," said Cherry's father, Robert Cherry. "I hope they send them away forever."

Foster, 27, was arrested on Jan. 8 for an unarmed assault with intent to rob, and remains in jail. Latham, 24, was arrested on Jan. 17 for assault with intent to murder. It is not known if these charges are connected to the Cherry case.

A family member said Foster and Latham are cousins.

Previously, Latham was jailed in 2011 on a marijuana charge, then arrested in November 2012 on a misdemeanor traffic offense.

Foster's record is longer. In 2003, he spent time in jail for receiving and concealing stolen property, then in 2005 and 2006 on drug charges. He pleaded guilty and spent time in prison in 2008 to a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon and felony assault with a dangerous weapon. Then in 2012, he was arrested on a misdemeanor traffic offense.

Police don't think the case is closed yet. They say others may be involved and continue to seek tips in this and the city's other four unsolved homicides.

"Anytime we are able to resolve any of these homicides, we are very pleased," said Belk.

Anyone with information on this or any other crime can contact GRPD at 616.456.3400 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.