Hope Cutts

Hope Latrese Cutts was a woman filled with a love for life and a deep desire to help others. Despite having experienced the hardship of living on the streets, the 43-year-old Black woman was a friend to many and a passionate advocate for the homeless community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was remembered for her willingness to show up for any cause that meant fewer people would have to endure life without a home. Whether it was speaking at events, helping to renovate houses, or organizing gatherings for fellow residents at Well House, a housing-first organization where she lived, Hope was an active and cherished member of her community. Her sister, Tiara Spence, remembered her as "Our Girl," a beloved sister, cousin, best friend, and niece.

The Christmas holiday of 2021 was shattered by violence and loss. On the evening of Christmas Eve, at approximately 8:40 p.m., officers from the Grand Rapids Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of Cass Avenue SE following reports of a shooting. Inside the home, they found Hope Cutts suffering from a single, devastating gunshot wound to her chest. She was rushed to a local hospital, but the injury proved fatal, and she died that same night. The Kent County Medical Examiner's Office later conducted an autopsy and officially ruled her death a homicide. The sudden and violent nature of her death sent a shockwave of grief through her family and all who knew her.

The investigation into Hope's murder was swift. Detectives with the Grand Rapids Police Department quickly identified a suspect, 33-year-old Dequan Keuonte Nelson. Police determined that Nelson and Cutts were known to each other, though the nature of their relationship was not publicly detailed. Within days of the shooting, Nelson was located, arrested, and taken into custody. The Kent County prosecutor's office formally charged him with one count of open murder and one count of possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Following his arrest, Dequan Nelson was arraigned on the charges. A judge, after reviewing the initial evidence and the severity of the alleged crimes, ordered that Nelson be held at the Kent County Correctional Facility without bond while he awaited his next court appearance. The charge of "open murder" in Michigan is a legal designation that allows the prosecution to proceed without immediately specifying whether they will pursue first- or second-degree murder charges, leaving that determination to be made based on the evidence presented in court.

In the wake of her death, Hope's family was left reeling. Her sister organized a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of a proper home-going service. "The CUTTS family is all in shock," she wrote, "but because of having a firm belief in Christ he is the only peace to lean on at this time." Tami VandenBerg, a former executive director of Well House who knew Hope well, released a statement expressing her devastation. "Hope was a friend and I’m devastated she was shot and died," VandenBerg said. "She will leave a gaping hole in the lives of those of us who loved her... I’m so angry her life was cut short. It’s incredibly unfair and I hope for accountability for the shooter."

A funeral service to celebrate Hope's life was held on December 30, 2021, at St. Mary's Temple of Peace Church in Grand Rapids, where family and friends gathered to mourn their profound loss. As of the latest available reports from late December 2021, the case against Dequan Keuonte Nelson was proceeding through the court system. He had been charged and was being held pending trial, but further details regarding a trial date, plea, or conviction have not been made public. The investigation remains under the jurisdiction of the Grand Rapids Police Department.