Youth program leader shot in head

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) - A youth program leader was shot in the head after he denied eight young men entry into the party he was hosting, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department.

The " Streams of Hope" organizer, MarShon Peoples, was alert and conscious when emergency crews arrived to the Community Center on 60th street SE in Gaines Township.

He was throwing a party for a regular program participant who is an East Kentwood High student when uninvited guests showed up.  When he didn't let them in, some of them opened fire, according to authorities.

About 150 people were inside.  People nearby told 24 Hour News 8, they heard about 25 gunshots.

"I heard what I thought was somebody knocking on the back door, but our front porch light wasn't on so that didn't make sense," Leslie Johnson, who lives nearby, said.  "I started to get up to go to the window and I heard it again."

Streams Of Hope is a community outreach organization that feeds the hungry and gives youth positive activities in which to participate.  Executive Director Paul Holtrop released a statement Saturday:

"I have very mixed emotions as I am troubled by the close impact of crime in our neighborhood, while also extremely grateful that the situation was not significantly worse... This incident obviously shows the tremendous need for positive intervention in our community, and shows exactly why Streams of Hope exists as a faith-based, community development organization. "

When deputies arrived, they observed several people fleeing on foot and in vehicles; mostly legitimate event participants, according to authorities.

Witnesses describe the shooters as young men, possibly in their late teens or early 20's driving a red SUV with tinted windows and/or a white Chevrolet Impala style sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Kent County Sheriff's Department or Silent Observer.